The Arkansas State Plant Board will collect public comments on its two proposed rules governing dicamba use for 2021. The initial proposed rule approved in December was made available for public comment on March 6th and will close on April 4th. The second proposed rule approved March 3rd have yet to be approved by Governor Hutchinson to go to public comment, but it will receive 30 days once approved for consideration. The first proposed rule included a May 25th cutoff date for use with a special permit for acres behind the Mississippi River levees that would allow for use consistent with the federal label. The second proposed rule, which was initiated by a petition for rulemaking, calls for the adoption of the federal label to replace the state rules governing dicamba use in Arkansas.
Following public comment periods, the Plant Board will move to consider the rule for the upcoming season. A public hearing may be required depending on the number of comments received.
The first proposed rule and instructions for commenting are included below:
https://www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/plant-industries/rules-and-regulations/proposed-rules/
- Arkansas Regulations on Pesticide Use. To establish cutoff dates for late season permits for dicamba applications east of the Mississippi River levee that will comply with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Click here to view the proposed rule.
Comments may be mailed to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, ATTN: Susie Nichols, 1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205, or emailed to susie.nichols@agriculture.arkansas.gov.