The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, along with seven other organizations representing farmers and ranchers, has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow producers to use the dicamba-based products they have on hand despite a ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacating the label for three herbicides.
“We are disheartened and surprised by the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision to vacate the labels for Enginia, Fexapan and Xtendimax,” they wrote in the letter. “We believe that EPA’s decision to label these products was based on sounds scientific evidence and thoughtful engagement with the regulated community. Also, we believe that the current label requirements were sufficient to address environmental concerns and allow for their safe use.
“On behalf of the undersigned parties, we request that the EPA issue an ‘Existing Stocks Rule’ or take other administrative actions as soon as is possible to allow the use of these products that farmers possess or are already in the supply chain for the 2020 growing season. Our producer members have already made a significant financial investment and are relying on this technology to get through this growing season.”
Joining the Louisiana Farm Bureau are the Alabama Farmers Federation, Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and Texas Farm Bureau Federation.
The Ninth Circuit Court on June 3 vacated current registrations for three low-volatility dicamba products.
The court ruling comes after environmental groups challenged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2018 registration decision on the products that include XtendiMax from Bayer, FeXapan from Corteva and Engenia from BASF.
The Louisiana Farm Bureau contributed this article.