NPR's Dan Charles on the Dicamba Debate

10/26/18 • 35 min

This week, Lindsey talks with NPR's Food and Agriculture Correspondent, Dan Charles, about the controversy surrounding the herbicide Dicamba, and the drift damage it has caused to other crops and wildlife across the country.

A few years ago, Monsanto engineered Dicamba-resistant soybeans because many weeds had developed tolerance to their popular product, Roundup. Many farmers were thrilled, and this year, soybeans were planted on approximately 89.6 million acres in the U.S. - 40% of these are Dicamba-tolerant. Although dicamba is highly effective at weed control, it can volatilize into the air, traveling for miles, and damaging non-resistant crops, trees, and other plants nearby. EPA will have the final say on whether growers can use Dicamba on their crops in the next few weeks.

More by Dan Charles on the Dicamba debate:

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/09/27/651262491/a-drifting-weedkiller-puts-prized-trees-at-risk
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/10/09/654847573/despite-a-ban-arkansas-farmers-are-still-spraying-controversial-weedkiller
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/02/14/584647903/these-citizen-regulators-in-arkansas-defied-monsanto-now-theyre-under-attack
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/10/26/559733837/monsanto-and-the-weed-scientists-not-a-love-story

Visit us on instagram @youngfarmerspodcast and let us know what you think about Dicamba and how you think the EPA should rule.

Recorded at Radio Kingston and edited by Hannah Beal.
Thanks to our podcast intern Julie Davis.

More by Dan Charles on the Dicamba debate:

Visit us on instagram @youngfarmerspodcast and let us know what you think about Dicamba and how you think the EPA should rule.

Recorded at Radio Kingston and edited by Hannah Beal.
Thanks to our podcast intern Julie Davis.

Previous Episode

Cooperative Power

In 1920, 14% of U.S. farmers were black - today less than 2%. Land ownership by Black farmers has also declined over the past 100 years, from 15 million acres to roughly 2 million acres. These numbers are tough, but some say they would be even worse without the leadership of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. Lindsey talks with Cornelius Blanding, executive director of the Federation, about Black land loss, how coops are helping black and rural communities, and their work with young black farmers.

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund
http://www.federationsoutherncoop.com/

October is National Co-op Month!
National Cooperative Business Association:
ncba.coop

#farmbillnow
Text "FARM BILL" to 40649 to support the FOTO/2501 program and other programs young farmers and farmers of color rely on.

Find us on Instagram @youngfarmerspodcast

Next Episode

Farm Bill Politics 5: #FARMBILLNOW

The 2014 Farm Bill has been expired since October 1st. What does this mean for young farmers and ranchers and the USDA programs they rely on? This week, we catch up with Andrew Bahrenburg, our National Policy Director and guy on the ground in DC, about the effects of the expiration and fate of these so-called "stranded" programs. We also chat with USDA Economist Dr. Anne B.W. Efland about the history of the bill, and what's at stake if a new bill isn't passed this year.

Also, a reminder to VOTE in the midterm elections this Tuesday, November 6th. In the meantime, you can take action today by calling your Reps and telling them that young farmers need a #farmbillnow. Text "FARM BILL" to 40649.

"Expiration of the 2014 Farm Bill: Some Potential Implications"