Southwest Farm Press Ron Smith
Texas pesticide regulations have been changed to better define the list of 2,4-D and dicamba formulations and to exempt 2,4-D and dicamba from the “regulated pesticide” category, but only when used on transgenic auxin tolerant crops.
Randy Rivera, administrator for Agriculture Protection and Certification, Texas Department of Agriculture, explained these changes during a Laws and Regulations presentation at the recent Texas Plant Protection Association annual conference in Bryan.
“This change allows the use of 2,4-D and dicamba (for the control of broadleaf weed species in cotton) without the need to obtain a permit or follow the use restrictions associated with the application of regulated herbicides ONLY when applied to crops tolerant to those herbicides,” Rivera says.
“However, 2,4-D and dicamba, when used in any other use setting will continue to be classified as regulated herbicides and subject to all of the requirements as specified in the Texas Pesticide Regulations, Chapter 7, section 7.50, General Requirements for Regulated Herbicide Applicators.
Other limitations include: Use is limited to crops that are genetically modified to be tolerant to either or both of these herbicides. They can be applied by ground only and only when wind speed is less than 10 miles per hour.
“The Department is proposing the amended rules to address the need to find ways to meet the growing problem of herbicide resistant and hard-to-control weeds, especially Palmer amaranth and common and giant pigweed,” Rivera explains. “Lack of control of these weeds is costly for producers and inhibits the advancement of agriculture-related technology in Texas. The Department supports new tools that will assist in providing new crop traits and new herbicide modes of action for improved weed control and improved crop production.”
Rivera says any use of 2,4-D and dicamba, which are considered State-limited-use pesticides, continues to be subject to the requirements of Chapter 76, section 76.105, which stipulate license and record keeping requirements.
The Texas Pesticide Regulations, Chapter 7, Section 7.30 Rule change has been published and became effective Friday, December 18, 2015. Producers, consultants and others involved in pesticide application may link to this publication at the Texas Register once there, click on “adopted rules.”
