There are a lot of concerns with making sure that we get 2021 off to a good start. Maybe it is the hybrids we choose, the pests we need to control, or getting contracts down on the crops. However, one of the things that is giving us many question marks is what tools we are going to have in our toolboxes for weed control. Dicamba is a tool that many farmers have come to rely on, but its future is in the air. For now, companies like Bayer are moving forward with plans for having it available in 2021.
Audio: Full Interview with Bayer’s Alex Zenteno
Earlier this year, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court struck down the registration for certain dicamba products like Bayer?s Xtendimax system. The ruling by the courts last June pertained to the 2018 certification of the chemical. Dicamba was already set to be reevaluated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this year for 2021. So, Bayer is getting ready with their Xtendimax programs, so if and when EPA approves Dicamba again, they will be ready to serve Farmers.
Alex Zenteno is with Bayer. She talks about what they are going to have available for producers in 2021. Bayer has submitted their program to the EPA for approval and they feel their case is strong. Bayer has added a tank additive to reduce volatility.
Couple this with Xtendflex soybeans that will be coming out in 2021, and producers will have a strong showing in their bean fields.
Zenteno says that farmers have been extremely happy with the Xtendimax system in the past. She encourages farmers to talk with producers who are using the system and learn about the benefits first-hand.
