What’s the Deal with Dicamba and 2,4D Drift in the News?

All producers should be aware of the new “Flag the Technology” program.  This is a field-marking program designed to prevent the misapplication of herbicides and to ensure applicators are aware of nearby sensitive crops.  Essentially, producers should mark all fields with a colored flag.  The different colors correspond with the specific trait technology planted in that field.  Red flags, for example, signify conventional varieties with no herbicide technology traits and sensitive crops like grapes, vegetables, or organic fields.  Black and white checks indicate a tolerance to dicamba and glyphosate.  To read more and see all flag colors, click here.  In addition to marking fields, a producer should ensure that anyone applying herbicides is educated on the various flag colors and takes care to notice flags in an area before beginning application. Second, producers should also be aware of the “Texas Crop Registry” which is currently being converted into a mobile app called “Hit the Target.”  The Hit the Target app, which will be available April 15, allows producers to enter the exact locations and boundaries of certain crops and then identify specific pesticide tolerances through using the Flag the Technology colors.  Then, before an applicator enters a field, he or she can pull up the location on the Hit the Target app and see a map of the surrounding area that shows various traits and crops nearby.Third, there are few problems that cannot be lessened, or even solved, over a cup of coffee.  Producers should know their neighbors and try and work with them to avoid issues.  If a farmer owns a cotton field that is surrounded by sensitive crops such as grapes or tomatoes on all sides, he may need to carefully consider whether he wants to utilize these new cropping systems.  If a farmer is growing grapes in the middle of cotton country, he may want to visit with his neighboring landowners to see what precautions they might be able to implement.