EPA Registers Monsanto’s Dicamba Formulation
10 November 2016 EPA announced it is registering a dicamba formulation, Xtendimax with Vapor Grip Technology from Monsanto, which is specifically designed to have lower volatility, to control weeds in cotton and soybean crops genetically engineered to tolerate dicamba.
According to Monsanto, the milestone will provide farmers the opportunity to utilize dicamba in the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System in 2017.
This registration is for a formulation of dicamba that contains an additive that reduces volatility. This formulation is different from the products that are alleged to have been recently used illegally. EPA continues to investigate these issues in several locations in the Midwest.
The label requires very specific and rigorous drift mitigation measures, EPA says. Restrictions on the use of the product to further reduce the potential for exposure from spray drift include: no application from aircraft; no application when wind speed is over 15 mph; application only with approved nozzles at specified pressures; and buffer zones to protect sensitive areas when the wind is blowing toward them.
Weeds that are becoming increasingly resistant to glyphosate-based herbicides cause problems for farmers. This registration will provide an additional tool to reduce the spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds. This final decision is designed to ensure that weed resistance is successfully managed, including reporting by the registrant to EPA of any suspected resistance, as well as remediation and grower education.
EPA is placing time limits on the registration to allow the Agency to either let it expire or to easily make the necessary changes in the registration if there are problems with resistant weeds or pesticide drift. Nevertheless, herbicide resistance is adequately addressed by the terms of the registration, and the Agency does not expect off-site incidents to occur.
This dicamba formula for use on dicamba-tolerant soybean and cotton has been registered for sale and use in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
EPA proposed this decision on March 31, 2016. EPA’s final regulatory decision and supporting documents, including a response to public comments, are available in docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0187 at www.regulations.gov.
Monsanto Comments
Monsanto says it is in a strong position to supply dicamba demand to support the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System in soybeans and cotton. Monsanto projects over 15 million Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean acres and over 3 million acres of Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton in 2017.
“We’re excited to enable another piece of the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System to farmers in 2017,” said Brett Begemann, Monsanto president and chief operating officer. “Based on the great demand we’ve seen in 2016, we know our farmers are looking forward to the benefits of the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System, including in-crop use of dicamba and glyphosate. Growers have been asking for this industry leading technology for years, and we’re excited to be able to provide it in 2017.”
The Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System is intended to provide farmers with more consistent, flexible control of weeds, especially tough-to-manage and glyphosate resistant weeds, and to help maximize crop yield potential. The system will include Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans, the industry’s first biotech product with tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate herbicides, and Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton, providing tolerance to three herbicides, dicamba, glyphosate and glufosinate.
“We’re pleased that we’ll be able to provide XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology in 2017. It will be an effective and economical weed control tool as part of Roundup Ready PLUS Crop Management Solutions,” said Ryan Rubischko, North America dicamba portfolio lead. “XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology introduces a step-change reduction in volatility potential compared to dicamba formulations currently on the market today. With the EPA’s approval of XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology, we will build on our existing education programs and best management practices using XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology in-crop with the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System.”
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