Wine makers in West Texas are reeling from herbicide drift injuries on their grapevines, an emerging threat to the state's $13 billion a year industry, NPR's Morning Edition reported Tuesday.
The damage likely originates from use of Monsanto's dicamba and Dow's 2,4-D formulations on nearby cotton fields. The companies sell cotton seeds that are genetically modified to withstand applications of the weedkillers. If farmers use the products improperly, the highly volatile chemicals can get picked up by the wind and land on off-target crops. When exposed to the herbicides, the leaves on non-target plants are often left cupped and distorted.
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Drift damage has ranged from "light exposure" that does not harm the grapes to "total devastation" at some wineries, according to NPR.
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<span></span><a href="https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vitwine/our-specialists/" target="_blank">Pierre Helwi</a> is a viticulturist for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, who monitors dozens of the region's vineyards estimates that 90-95 percent of them have been damaged.
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Texas, the fifth largest wine producer in the country, is home to more than 400 wineries, according to the <a href="https://www.txwines.org/about-texas-wine#TexasWineFacts" target="_blank">Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association</a>. West Texas, which has a dry climate ideal for growing cotton as well as wine grapes, has become the backbone of the state's wine industry and grows about 80 percent of its wine grapes.
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<span></span>Last year, West Texas vintners <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/wine-monsanto-dow-dicamba-2-4-d-2177053648.html" target="_blank">expressed this very concern</a> that federal <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/epa-monsanto-dicamba-gmos-2087899331.html">approval</a> of Monsanto and Dow's formulations could jeopardize the sector.
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This is the
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/dicamba-crop-damage-2580306844.html" target="_blank">third year in a row</a> where dicamba has affected the nation's crops. A <a href="https://ipm.missouri.edu/IPCM/2018/7/July-15-Dicamba-injury-update-different-year-same-questions/">report</a> from the University of Missouri last month found that dicamba drift caused more than 1 million acres of crop injuries across the U.S.
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<span></span>The ongoing saga of pesticide drift highlights the growing issue of herbicide-resistant weeds, or <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/genetically-engineered-crops-trigger-cycle-of-superweeds-and-toxic-pes-1881771901.html" target="_blank">superweeds</a>, that have evolved to resist the herbicide <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/monsanto-glyphosate-cheerios-2093130379.html" target="_blank">glyphosate</a>, or Roundup. In response to weeds such as pigweed that have infested farms across the U.S., <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/agribusiness">agribusinesses</a> such as Monsanto and Dow have developed stronger formulations to help farmers.
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The companies have said their weedkillers can be safely used with proper training and if farmers adhere to label instructions, although some have complained that the instructions are too restrictive or
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/monsanto-basf-epa-dicamba-2497674908.html">difficult to follow</a>.
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Farmers and conservation groups have
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/pesticide-drift-lawsuit-xtendimax-2534117304.html">waged</a> <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/epa-lawsuit-dow-enlist-duo-2323372668.html" target="_blank">lawsuits</a> against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/pesticide-drift-lawsuit-xtendimax-2534117304.html">EPA</a>) for approving Monsanto and Dow's mixtures.
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Dicamba's federal approval is subject to expiration this fall, during which the EPA will decide whether to renew the registration or let it expire. 2,4-D is also currently undergoing
<a href="https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-reevaluation" target="_blank">registration review</a>.
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Monsanto lost its bid to overturn Arkansas' ban on dicamba, a controversial weedkiller linked to extensive damage to famers' crops in the state as well as several other states.
The agribusiness giant makes a version of the herbicide called XtendiMax that's paired with its seeds that are genetically engineered to resist the product. DuPont Co. and BASF SE also sell their own dicamba-based formulations.
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Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza dismissed Monsanto's lawsuit Friday citing a recent Arkansas Supreme Court ruling which held that the state cannot be made a defendant in court.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="45bee" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9MD24X1576661844"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="964627285562281985" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Official AAD Statement: “Today, Judge Piazza, an AR Circuit Court Judge, dismissed the lawsuit that Monsanto filed… https://t.co/jF94LDkKAe</div> — Arkansas Department of Agriculture (@Arkansas Department of Agriculture)<a href="https://twitter.com/ARDeptofAgricul/statuses/964627285562281985">1518820041.0</a></blockquote></div>
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"We are disappointed in the court's decision to dismiss our legal challenge of the plant board's restrictions, and we will consider additional legal steps that might be appropriate," Scott Partridge, the company's vice president of global strategy, told the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/02/16/us/ap-us-herbicide-dispute-arkansas.html" target="_blank">Associated Press</a> in a statement. "We look forward to the day when Arkansas growers can benefit from the latest weed-control technology on the market."
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The AP further reported:
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"Among other arguments, Monsanto claimed that the state did not consider the economic impact of the ban. The company also challenged the makeup of the 18-member board, arguing a state law that gives private groups such as the state Seed Growers Association power to appoint members violates Arkansas' constitution. Piazza said he wouldn't going to rule specifically on the request for a preliminary injunction in case his dismissal ruling is appealed and sent back to his court."
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Monsanto—which expects farmers to plant <a href="https://www.agriculture.com/crops/soybeans/monsanto-expects-its-dicamba-tolerant-seeds-on-40-of-us-soy-acres" target="_blank">40 million acres</a> of dicamba-tolerant soybeans and 6 million acres of a cotton version across the U.S. this year—sued the Arkansas State Plant Board over its decision to ban the herbicide's sale and use between April 16 and Oct. 31. The regulators made the decision <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/arkansas-dicamba-2488282344.html">after receiving nearly 1,000 complaints</a> last year over dicamba damage.
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The powerful and drift-prone herbicide has been blamed for damaging more than three millions of acres of non-target crops across the country. Other states such as Tennessee and Missouri—Monsanto's home state—have also imposed temporary bans or restrictions on the use of dicamba to curb further damage.
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Although dicamba has been around for decades, Monsanto, DuPont Co. and BASF SE sells new formulations of the herbicide that's said to be less drift-prone and volatile than older versions when used correctly.
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Monsanto has long defended its product, blaming growers for using older versions of dicamba or not following directions on the new product label.
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The controversy will not die anytime soon. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/pesticide-drift-lawsuit-xtendimax-2534117304.html">On Friday</a>, public interest organizations representing farmers and conservationists made their legal case in a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Monsanto, challenging EPA's approval of Monsanto's XtendiMax pesticide.
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</p><div id="60522" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3WNETF1576661845"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="965422492608180224" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">'Dangerous Drift-Prone Pesticide' Threatens Millions of Acres, Hundreds of Endangered Species: Farmers and Conserva… https://t.co/1FVTSNy2HW</div> — Zen Honeycutt (@Zen Honeycutt)<a href="https://twitter.com/zenhoneycutt/statuses/965422492608180224">1519009633.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Pesticide spray sign on Vesterbrook Farm, which suffered damage from herbicide drift.
Herbicide drift has been a major problem last year damaging millions of acres of crops in the U.S.
An organic farmer in Missouri has seen firsthand how destructive herbicide drift can be as it destroys his crops and threatens his livelihood and farm.
<p style="">Mike Brabo and his wife Carol own Vesterbrook Farm in Clarksville, Missouri, about an hour north of St. Louis near the Mississippi River. The farm has been in Carol's family for nearly a century. The couple and their two children have worked the farm since 2008 after Mike survived thyroid cancer.</p><p style="">At that time Mike gained an appreciation for <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/organic">organic</a> foods but found it difficult to afford them. "It's expensive to buy organic fruits and vegetables at Whole Foods," he said.</p><p style="">Mike and Carol decided to grow their own. It wasn't difficult to convert the farm to organic since no chemicals had been used on the land.</p><p style="">"There had been nothing grown on the farm but grass for 15 years," Mike said.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image" style="">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzE2MjYwOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNjM5NjI4M30.G28YfKj5Roir4EdIzX_DddzUxsXVTR9qgPyHI59FWDk/img.jpg?width=980" id="2177c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="63330d3b69eb8df65911203a000ccd9e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Mike Brabo and his wife Carol (center) and children Bethany (left) and Josh (right).</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Vesterbrook Farm</small></p><p style=""><strong>Sell Crops to 150-Member CSA</strong><br></p><p style="">Over the years, the Brabos have grown their organic farm. A lot of vegetables can be grown on 24 acres, and the Brabos have planted more than 60 including lettuce, spinach, beets, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, peppers, squash and tomatoes, among others. Some vegetables are grown in four high tunnel greenhouses. They also planted an orchard with apple, peach, plum and cherry trees and fruit bushes such as raspberries. They also grow herbs such as sage, parsley and cilantro.</p><p style="">They sell the fruits of their labor to 150 members of their community supported agriculture (CSA) program. Ironically, some of the CSA members are employees of a large, well-known multi-national <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/agribusiness">agribusiness</a> company in St. Louis.</p><p style="">Mike says his customers appreciate getting fresh organic produce. "Some people have a tough time finding organic food. There are not a lot of organic farms in our area."</p><p style="">Vesterbrook Farm uses organic practices but is not certified through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program. Instead, Mike chose Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) as their certifier.</p><p style="">"Their standards meet or exceed the USDA's," he said. "CNG has a much greater emphasis on sustainability with planting areas that bring in wildlife and beneficial insects."</p><p style="">The Brabos have seen growing success with their organic farm and CSA with sales increasing 10 percent per year.</p><p style=""><strong>Herbicides Damaged Crops, Loss of $300,000</strong></p><p style="">That is until this year. In June, a conventional farmer neighbor sprayed his soybean field with herbicides. Wind blew the herbicides over the Brabos' land.</p><p style="">This happened despite Mike having signs that say "Organic Farm, No Spray" signs and registering his farm with DriftWatch, a communication tool that enables farmers and pesticide applicators to work together to protect specialty crops using mapping programs.</p><p style="">The damage from the herbicide drift was total. "We found damage across our farm, which is 500 yards wide, including on the far north side of the property," Mike said.</p><p style="">Crops damaged included peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, basil; fruit trees were also damaged. "Everything on the farm, even ornamental trees, was damaged," Mike said.</p><p style="">The herbicides also killed half of the farm's bees, an estimated loss of $12,000. Mike estimates the total loss at $300,000.</p><p style="">Tests revealed that the herbicides responsible for the damage were glufosinate, clethodim and metolachlor.</p><p style="">Their Certified Naturally Grown certification was suspended, and the Brabos must essentially start over to remove the herbicide contamination from their farm. It will take three years at an estimated cost of $1.6 million to remediate the damage and regain CNG certification. According to Mike, they will have to plant cover crops and replenish the soil with beneficial bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi.</p><p style=""><strong>"Worst Case Scenario is We Lose the Farm"</strong></p><p>Mike could grow vegetables and sell them as conventional but he refuses for fear that a customer would become sick because of the herbicide contamination.</p><p style="">"As a cancer survivor I'm not going to be complicit in putting something in the food supply that could make someone sick," he said.</p><p style="">For now, the Brabos are out of business for three years. "We aren't sure what we are going to do," Mike said. "The worst case scenario is we lose the family farm."</p><p style="">The Brabos are working with attorneys to reach a settlement with their neighbor's insurance company.</p><p style="">"We just want to be rightly compensated to grow healthy food for ourselves and repairing the soil and ecosystem so we can grow food for the St. Louis community," Mike said.</p><p style="">While the Brabos' farm wasn't damaged by <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/dicamba">dicamba</a>, their ruined crops demonstrate the destruction it and other <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/pesticides" target="_blank">pesticides</a> can cause to small family farms.</p><p style="">"This whole drift issue is so huge. How many farmers and vegetable growers have chemically drifted vegetables?" Mike said.</p><p style="">To help Vesterbrook Farm recover from its devastating losses, go to <a href="https://www.youcaring.com/vesterbrookfarm-979212" target="_blank">YouCaring</a>.<br></p>
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