Some Kansas farmers are criticizing a federal decision to halt the use of certain weed killers marketed by major U.S. drug companies. The ruling from a federal court in Arizona bans the use of dicamba weed killers sold by Bayer and Syngenta.
According to a spokesperson for the Southern Kansas Cotton Growers Cooperative, farmers are disappointed by the ruling, arguing that they are aware of potential dangers associated with the weed killers.
Federal officials say the court decision centered on the potential danger that the chemicals could be spread by high winds. Meanwhile, farmers affected by the ruling say it will make it more difficult for them to manage weeds in their fields, and that could affect their crop yields.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture issued a statement saying there are three dicamba weed killers that are used for weed control in over-the-top applications (post-emergence) on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. The Department said the court ruling could have a significant impact on farmers and agribusinesses, and it has been communicating with federal agencies about the need for flexibility, especially in the use of existing and purchased stocks for the 2024 growing season.
[ photo – Kansas Department of Agriculture – Facebook ]
