Dear ANPS Member,

The ANPS Board of Officers is carefully following the pending decision to change the Arkansas regulation on the use of the chemical dicamba.  This agricultural herbicide, designed to be used on genetically modified crops resistant to the chemical, has become a controversial issue among both farmers and the ecological communities in the state.
Many ANPS members, board members and our friends in Audubon Arkansas believe that the Arkansas Plant Board should not extend the use of this herbicide beyond April 15th of each year in Arkansas.  The argument is that the volatility of the chemical during the warmer months has a harmful side effect on non-resistant crops, honeybee nectar sources and native plants.  This warm weather use of dicamba could also seriously affect native plants and the native and non-native plant nectar sources for pollinators such as bumblebees, moths, butterflies, other insects, and hummingbirds. 

Yesterday, Gov. Hutchinson approved a thirty day public comment period before a final board meeting to vote on the issue.

Historically the ANPS has not taken a position on matters like this, preferring to instead inform the membership and the public regarding the science involved in any controversial agricultural or land use issue being considered by our local, state and federal government.  

We encourage each member of ANPS to take the time to educate themselves on this issue and then make an individual decision on whether and how to support or oppose the change to the regulation on use of dicamba in Arkansas.  

Both the Governor and the State Plant Board welcome comments from the public.  The 30 day comment period will begin in the next few days. 

Please take a moment to look at the links below for more information. 

Donna Hanke
President, ANPS


Modern Farmer-What is dicamba?
https://modernfarmer.com/2016/08/dicamba/

Arkansas Outdoor Country article on the dilemma for Arkansas farmershttp://www.arkansasoutdoorcountry.com/dicamba-between-the-ducks-and-a-hard-place/
Audubon Arkansas Urges Arkansans to Petition the Governor https://act.audubon.org/onlineactions/aFb8IH3aCUuc_3ZXWpOlRA2
Arkansas State Plant Board-Dicamba Issue
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1&q=arkansas+state+plant+board+dicamba
Contact Information for Arkansas State Plant Board (phone, email, address)https://portal.arkansas.gov/agency/arkansas-agriculture-department/arkansas-state-plant-board/
Contact Information for Governor Hutchinsonhttps://governor.arkansas.gov/online-services/contact-us/
Governor Asa Hutchinson, State Capitol Room 250, 500 Woodlane Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201   (501) 682-2345
New Dicamba Restrictions Guidelines
https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/arkansas-plant-board-meets-establishes-new-dicamba-restriction-periods/91-621902922

AR Plant Board Approves Draft Regulation for 2019 Dicamba Use
https://www.kark.com/news/local-news/ar-plant-board-approves-draft-regulation-for-2019-dicamba-use/1645816268