Statement by Steve Nelson, President, Thanking Gov. Ricketts, Director of Agriculture Wellman for Allowing Continued Dicamba Use
LINCOLN, NEB. – “On behalf of Nebraska Farm Bureau members from across the state, I want to publicly thank Governor Pete Ricketts and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Steve Wellman for acting over the weekend to clarify that the Department of Agriculture would continue to allow the sale and utilization of dicamba products impacted by a recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling vacating the labels for these products. Dicamba is a widely used weed control product utilized by many Nebraska farmers, largely in the protection of soybean fields. The application of dicamba is highly regulated and the timing of such applications are restricted. To say the court’s action was ill-timed would be a major understatement given it was issued right in the middle of the growing season, during the window in which dicamba could be used by Nebraska farmers. The Department of Agriculture’s action to allow the continued sale and use of these products provides much needed relief to farmers until the legal uncertainties, including appeals to the decision and action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are clarified. The governor and director’s actions are not only welcomed, but consistent with similar actions in neighboring states.”
The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 58,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit www.nefb.org.
