By Clint Thompson
Count the Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) as one of the many agricultural organizations encouraged by and pleased with the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision regarding the future use of three dicamba products.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency press release, the EPA approved new registrations for two “over-the-top” (OTT) dicamba products—XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology and Engenia Herbicide—and extended the registration for an additional OTT dicamba product, Tavium Plus VaporGrip Technology. These registrations are only for use on dicamba-tolerant (DT) cotton and soybeans and will expire in 2025.
Clarity for Georgia Cotton Growers
This provides clarity for Georgia cotton growers for the upcoming growing season and beyond. Georgia Cotton Commission Executive Director Taylor Sills applauds the decision.
“Access to Dicamba is a huge issue for our growers, not just in Georgia, but growers across the cotton belt. The industry itself has made significant investments in these technologies and continued access to them is a critical tool as we go around proving our sustainability. Tools such as dicamba are very important to proving that for us,” said Sills.
The EPA, led by Administrator Andrew Wheeler, made the announcement on Tuesday at the Cromley Farm in Brooklet, Georgia. All three registrations include new control measures to ensure these products can be used effectively while protecting the environment.
“It was very special to have Administrator Wheeler in Georgia for this announcement. It just goes to prove that the cotton growers of Georgia have been excellent stewards of this technology. Frankly, our growers are the gold standard. What Georgia has done as it relates to dicamba should be an example for the rest of the nation,” Sills said.