The New 2,4-D and Dicamba-Tolerant Crops:

 Managing Risks to Farms and Communities

Glyphosate susceptibility in many weed species has decreased in the last decade generating increased anxiety among row crop farmers who feel they are losing a valuable tool in fighting herbicide resistant weeds on their farms. In the coming years row crops with genetically modified (GM) tolerances to the herbicides glyphosate and either 2,4-D or dicamba will be available to farmers, along with new formulations of the herbicides (alleged to reduce spray drift), to combat glyphosate-resistant weeds. Row-crop farmers, desiring solutions to their weed-resistance problems, are likely to rapidly adopt these new technologies in the central U.S. where many specialty crops are also grown. Specialty crops are an integral part of diverse and healthy rural farm communities. Spray drift of either herbicide is can induce severe injury in highly sensitive fruits, vegetables and ornamentals that diminishes or even eliminates crop value. Many specialty crop growers fear that these technologies and their industry cannot co-exist. This symposium addressed the imminent risks from these advances in row crop production to the sustainability of the specialty crop industry.

Now is the time for an evaluation of the appropriateness of the new 2,4-D and dicamba formulations, and related GM crops as effective long-term weed management strategies. Nearly all stakeholder groups have concerns about the risks from the pending release of these technologies. They include: produce grower concerns of drift and volatility issues resulting from previous formulations; row-crop farmer and manufacturer concerns over prior lawsuits resulting from allegations of misuse, drift, and volatility; concerns over licensing fees and other increased expenses, consumer and environmental health and rural community well-being concerns; growing awareness and resistance to GMOs and other technologies; and product manufacturer concerns over public perception and risks associated with product use. In addition, the introduction and widespread adoption of Roundup and “Roundup Ready” crops initially decreased but then increased herbicide use and was a missed opportunities to evaluate a landscape-scale ecosystem experiment.

Moreover, the international scale and broad scope of the 2,4-D and dicamba technology in conjunction with the number of individuals and groups with a stake in the outcomes makes this the right time for formation of a multi-state, transdisciplinary, and stakeholder led working group. To address this issue, a first of its kind USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative Research and Education Planning Program grant was proposed to support The New 2,4-D and Dicamba-Tolerant Crops: Managing Risks to Farms and Communities conference. Using a trained moderator specializing in large-group facilitation and conflict management, the conference consisted of a symposium and workshop held in Columbus, OH, from October 31 to November 2. A diverse set of sixty stakeholders, from 4 countries, participated in the 3-day event; they represented many positions of the herbicide-tolerant crop issue that include specialty crop grower, row-crop farmers, social scientists, economists, horticultural and weed scientists, plant pathologists, extension specialists, herbicide manufacturers, farm advocacy groups, consumer advocacy groups. Each participant shared their positions on these technologies during the conference that included potential risks, and ideas for mitigating these risks. The guiding questions of this symposium were: What are the potential risks (social, economic, ecological) to farms and communities associated with use of the reformulated 2,4-D and dicamba herbicides and related herbicide-tolerant crops? What alternative approaches exist or can be created to resolve the herbicide resistance issue that does not exclusively rely on these new technologies? Who is involved in risk assessment and solution development? Who assumes the greatest and least risk?

A SYMPOSIUM OF RESEARCH AND ACTION

OCTOBER 31 TO NOVEMBER 1, 2011 NATIONWIDE AND OHIO FARM

BUREAU 4-H CENTER

Symposium Program

Symposium Proceedings

2011

T H E O H I O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y – A G R I C U L T U R A L  R I S K  A N A L Y S I S  P R O G R A M