The Arizona Federal court has announced its decision to vacate the registration of three dicamba products – XtendiMax, Engenia, and Tavium. In his opinion, U.S. District Federal Judge David Bury determined the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not afford notice or comment when it issued “new use” registrations for cotton and soybean dicamba-tolerant crops in 2020.
In response, agricultural organizations across the country – including TFBF and AFBF – are calling on EPA to appeal the decision and grant an existing stocks order for the 2024 crop year.
“With little to no time to purchase alternatives and change inputs before the 2024 planting season, the loss of the dicamba label places thousands of acres of row crops in Tennessee at risk of decreased or completely lost production this year,” said Tennessee Farm Bureau President Eric Mayberry in a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “These potential losses would significantly affect farmers’ financial security, negatively impact agricultural creditors, and would have extensive impact on the nation’s food supply.” Read TFBF’s full letter here.
“Our farmer and rancher members are committed to the safe use of all crop protection tools,” said American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “However, responsible farmers that have invested in – and often taken loans out to purchase – dicamba-resistant products for the current growing season should not bear the financial burden caused by this legal dispute.” Read AFBF’s full letter here.
