In spite of thousands of comments in opposition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided to deregulate Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) dicamba-resistant soybeans and cotton. In September 2014, the USDA deregulated Dow’s GE 2,4-D-resistant corn and soybeans. These new GE herbicide-resistant crops are the biotech industry’s “quick fix” to the massive outbreak of glyphosate-resistant weeds resulting from the over-use use of glyphosate (commonly called Roundup), which accompanied years of the widespread adoption of Monsanto’s “Roundup Ready” crops.  

If the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) subsequently approves commercialization of this new GE crop, dicamba use in cotton is expected to rise by 14 times current levels while use in soybeans is expected to exceed 500 times current levels. Dicamba is a strong broadleaf herbicide which persists in the environment and has been linked to an increased incidence of cancer among farmers and birth defects in their male offspring. Because of dicamba’s propensity to drift, volatilize and cause serious injury to neighbouring crops, farmers—especially fruit, nut and vegetable growers in the Midwest—fear harm from its increased use.

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) has issued several letters to the authorities with stern critique of their deregulation of the new GE herbicide-resistant crops. It cites several reasons for its opposition, including a resulting massive increase in the use of dicamba, the large-scale emergence of dicamba-resistant weeds, a sharp rise in drift-related crop injury episodes, a potential rise in disease from greater exposure to the herbicide, especially in the farming community but perhaps also in the general population, and a failure by the USDA to adequately consider the effects on non-target organisms.  

It recommends instead non-approval, which would encourage farmers to “adopt healthier and more sustainable forms of weed management that rely less on herbicides. This outcome could be fostered by USDA through proper incentives for innovative integrated weed management techniques that prioritize cultural means of control, deemphasize herbicides, and help farmers get off the transgenic and pesticide treadmills.”  

CFS’s submissions to the authorities can be downloaded at: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/policy-comments

January 15, 2015 (Washington, DC)—The Center for Food Safety criticized the decision today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deregulate Monsanto’s dicamba-resistant soybeans and cotton.  The anticipated widespread adoption of these GE crops would lead to an over 10-fold increase in dicamba use in American agriculture, from under 4 million lbs. at present to more than 40 million lbs. per year.  Commercialization is contingent on EPA approval of dicamba formulations for use on the new crops, which is presently under consideration. 

“Monsanto’s genetically-engineered dicamba-resistant crops are yet another example of how pesticide firms are taking agriculture back to the dark days of heavy, indiscriminate use of hazardous pesticides, seriously endangering human health and the environment,” said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of Center for Food Safety. “If EPA also reneges on its responsibility to protect human and environmental health, Center for Food Safety will pursue all available legal options to halt the introduction of these dangerous crops.” 

First approved in the 1967, dicamba is a potent broadleaf herbicide that in epidemiology studies has been linked to increased rates of cancer in farmers and birth defects in their male offspring.  Dicamba is moderately persistent and frequently detected in surface waters.  Farmers are particularly concerned by dicamba’s propensity to drift and damage neighboring crops.  Dicamba drift also threatens flowering plants that provide nectar for pollinators and habitat for other species. The large increase in dicamba applications that would accompany the crops is expected to dramatically escalate these adverse impacts. 

Monsanto has presented dicamba resistant crops as a quick fix to the epidemic of glyphosate-resistant weeds generated by massive use of glyphosate herbicide with the company’s first-generation GE crops, known as Roundup Ready.  However, USDA itself and many scientists predict that the massively increased use of dicamba with these new GE crops will rapidly foster development of still more intractable weeds resistant to both dicamba and glyphosate.

“Monsanto’s dicamba-resistant crops are the latest fruits of a pesticide industry strategy to increase sales of their toxic herbicides,” said Bill Freese, Center for Food Safety science policy analyst. “Genetic engineering is making American agriculture more chemical-dependent and less sustainable than ever before.” 

http://www.panna.org/usda-ignores-farmer-opposition-approves-monsantos-dicamba-resistant-seed

Despite receiving thousands of comments in opposition, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today approved Monsanto’s newest seed products — soybean and cotton varieties genetically engineered to withstand applications — and drive up sales of the company’s drift-prone herbicide, dicamba.

With USDA’s approval, growers can expect use of dicamba to increase dramatically in both crops. According to USDA data and Monsanto projections, dicamba use in cotton is expected to increase by 14 times current levels, while use in soybeans is expected to surge by up to 500 times current levels.* Farmers predict that such a dramatic increase in use of dicamba — a highly drift-prone chemical known to be extremely toxic to most plants — will result in more frequent and devastating damage to vulnerable crops and increased pesticide exposure for rural families.

Most at risk are fruit, nut and vegetable growers in the Midwest. As Steve Smith, Director of Agriculture for Red Gold, one of the nation’s largest full-line tomato processing companies, testified before Congress in 2010:

"I am convinced that in all of my years serving the agriculture industry, the widespread use of dicamba herbicide [poses] the single most serious threat to the future of the specialty crop industry in the Midwest."

Meanwhile, Monsanto’s response to farmers’ concerns about crop damage has been to develop exceedingly complex and demanding protocols for applying and disposing of the herbicide cocktail, including a ten-step triple rinse of sprayers that is likely to take more than an hour and then entails proper disposal of the contaminated rinse water. This ‘solution’ puts all responsibility on farmers, and sets up the company to escape liability for crop damage.

As PAN’s Dr. Marcia Ishii-Eiteman says,“Monsanto’s newest product is the latest in a slew of bad ideas — bad for farmers, bad for rural communities, bad for American agriculture. USDA’s approval today signals their continued contempt of farmers’ concerns, and their allegiance to the largest pesticide corporations. We stand with farm families in opposing this decision and call instead for public policy that protects rural communities and promotes agroecology.”

* Projected increases of dicamba use in soybeans are based on current use levels (USDA-NASS 2013 published data, referenced in EIS Appendix Table 4-1, p. 4-4) and Monsanto’s anticipated use patterns (EIS Appendix Table 4-9, page 4-17).