Pesticide ‘Drifting’ Wreaks Havoc Across U.S. Crops
- Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas have placed curbs on dicamba use
- At least 2.5 million soy acres are impacted, researcher says
Soybeans are harvested with a Case IH 7230 combine harvester in Princeton, Illinois, U.S., on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Soybean futures for November delivery fell 0.9% on the Chicago Board of Trade after reaching $8.92, highest for most-active contract since Sept. 16.
Photographer: Daniel Acker/BloombergLarry Martin in Illinois says he’s never seen anything like it in his 35 years of farming. Arkansas soybean grower Joe McLemore says he faces the loss of his life savings.
They’re among farmers across the U.S. suffering from a pesticide "drifting" across from neighboring fields onto their crops, leaving behind a trail of damage. Although not a new problem, it’s re-emerged with a vengeance this year. At least 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) have been damaged in this growing season through mid-July, according to estimates from Kevin Bradley, a professor of plant sciences at the University of Missouri.