By KEVIN WALKER Michigan Correspondent EAST LANSING, Mich. — Acreage planted with the dicamba-resistant soybean is expected to increase this year in Michigan, according to experts at Michigan State University. Along with that increase comes a higher potential for drift and subsequent damage to neighboring crops. XtendiMax, Engenia and FeXampan brands of dicamba herbicide are all getting more use in the state this year, according to MSU extension specialist Ben Phillips. Dicamba-resistant soybeans were developed to combat weeds. Because of the much publicized potential for damage due to drift, however, sprayers and applicators are now required to take a class to use dicamba on those soybean fields. Applicators are also required to document that they checked for susceptible crops in the area, via a Sensitive Crop Registry like DriftWatch or surveying neighboring fields for crops that may be damaged by dicamba. “I don’t know exactly how many acres of dicamba soybeans are going in, but what I’ve been hearing from seed sellers is that more acreage is going to the dicamba-resistant bean this year,” Phillips said. That makes DriftWatch an increasingly relevant tool for growers. He said this online registry is of particular value in Michigan because there are a large number of fruit and vegetable growers in the state, far more than in the Plains states where the dicamba bean “has been big.” However, registration with DriftWatch is not a requirement for fruit and vegetable growers – registration is “just supposed to provide an added layer of protection.” Organic growers are required to register with DriftWatch. Rebecca Young, for example, is listed on DriftWatch Michigan. She grows organic vegetables on about 2.25 acres in Big Rapids as part of a Christian ministry. “I use DriftWatch to inform my neighbors and the county road commission that an organic garden is in the area,” Young said in a brief email exchange. “However, I have only been to the site once for initial signup and once to renew my registration.” According to statistics from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, there are 695 growers in the state registered with DriftWatch and 261 apiaries. Nationwide, 14,388 growers are registered with DriftWatch, as well as 19,736 apiaries. A quick look at the DriftWatch Michigan webpage shows dozens of organic operations dotting the map, displayed with small icons indicating fruit, vegetable and beekeeping operations. According to Phillips, there are also “dozens and dozens” of dry bean growers registered with the service in the state’s Thumb region. There are “some organic soybean and corn growers” registered with the service in that area, also. Phillips has been to beekeeper meetings and some of those people have expressed concerns about registering with DriftWatch since it could alert potential thieves to the location of bee yards. He also commented on the overall problem of dicamba drift, saying the herbicide has been used for many years for corn without a problem; an issue now with dicamba-resistant soybeans is that this crop is planted later in the season. “The schedule for corn doesn’t overlap with vegetables, but now with dicamba soybeans, there is overlap,” he explained. “The problem is that most growers don’t have dicamba beans and other soybeans are sensitive to dicamba, as well. That’s the underlying problem. “Anyone who sprays any of the three brands of dicamba have to go through a class and that’s where DriftWatch comes in. As part of the class, growers have to field-scout the surrounding area; however, if they reference a database like DriftWatch, they don’t have to do field scouting. This can save the grower a significant amount of time.” DriftWatch is meant for growers who have at least a half-acre of crop. To see the Michigan registry, go to https://mi.driftwatch.org and to get information on a particular grower listed, click on the icon that’s displayed. |
