Trump’s EPA reapproves contentious weedkiller dicamba for some GM crops | Trump administration
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday reapproved the use of the weedkiller dicamba on genetically modified soybeans and cotton, a pesticide that has sparked widespread concern about its tendency to drift and destroy neighboring crops.
The agency said dicamba was essential for farmers who would otherwise see their crops threatened by fast-growing weeds. To ensure the pesticide is used safely, the agency said it has imposed strong protections and limits on its use.
Dicamba is a common weedkiller that can be sprayed on genetically modified crops. This kills weeds but does not harm crops. It has been used for decades, but has become more common on farms in recent years.
Advocates sharply criticized the agency, saying it was moving forward after courts blocked similar efforts in 2020 and 2024. Allowing its use on those two common crops would significantly increase the amount applied and increase harm, advocates say.
Kelly Ryerson, an activist with the Make American Healthy Again (Maha) movement that has forged a fragile political allegiance with the Trump administration, said she was disheartened by the decision.
“One of my top priorities was to permanently stop the use of dicamba for over-the-top applications because of” its harms, she said. “Further restrictions on use are not enough and will perpetuate the chemical treadmill in which many farmers are trapped. »
The EPA has said growers want the weedkiller and need to be supported – and that this is not an issue between Maha and EPA.
The agency said concerns about dicamba drifting to places where it was not intended are real and must be managed. It sets limits on the amount that can be applied per acre, the amount that can be applied in hot weather, and establishes buffer zones to avoid harming neighboring crops. If followed, the chemical can be used without threatening humans or the environment, according to the EPA.
The American Soybean Association applauded the move, saying clear rules would help farmers prepare for the next growing season and control destructive weeds.
Environmental groups said dicamba drift had damaged huge areas, devastating vegetable farms, trees and other essential plants.
“When push comes to shove, this administration is willing to bend over backwards to appease the pesticide industry, regardless of the public health or environmental consequences,” said Nathan Donley, director of environmental health sciences at the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity.
Environmentalists have said the EPA’s use restrictions are insufficient, allowing application for too long and on too many days of the year. The buffer the agency uses to avoid damage to neighboring plants has already proven ineffective, they said.
Researchers are working to better understand its health risks. A 2020 study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that exposure to dicamba was linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, including liver cancer and a type of leukemia affecting the blood and bone marrow.
Bayer, a maker of dicamba, said federal registration will now allow it to seek state approval. They will be launching training for applicators in the coming weeks.
