WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday reauthorized the use of the herbicide dicamba on genetically modified soybeans and cotton, a pesticide that has generated widespread concern over its tendency to spread and destroy nearby crops.
The EPA said dicamba is crucial for farmers who would otherwise see their crops threatened by fast-growing weeds. To ensure the pesticide is used safely, the agency said it imposed strong protections and limitations.
Dicamba is a common herbicide that can be sprayed on genetically modified crops. It kills weeds but does not affect crops. It has been used for decades, but its use on farms has become more widespread in recent years.
Activists criticized the agency, saying it is acting after courts blocked similar efforts in 2020 and 2024. Allowing its use on these two common crops will dramatically expand the amount applied and increase damage, they said.
Kelly Ryerson, an activist with the Make American Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which has forged a tenuous political alliance with President Donald Trump’s administration, said she was dismayed by the decision.
“One of my top priorities was to permanently suspend the use of dicamba for crop applications due to its damage,” he said. “The new restrictions on its use are not enough and will perpetuate the chemical spiral in which many farmers are trapped.”
The EPA stated that farmers want the herbicide and it is necessary to support them, and that this is not a problem between MAHA and the institution
The agency noted that concerns about dicamba spreading to unwanted locations are real and must be managed. It limited the amount that can be applied per hectare (acre) and on hot days, and established protection zones to prevent damage to nearby crops. If guidelines are followed, the chemical can be used without endangering humans or the environment, according to the EPA.
The American Soybean Association applauded the decision and noted that clear rules will help farmers prepare for the next growing season and control weeds.
Environmental groups said the spread of dicamba has damaged huge areas, devastating plantations of vegetables, trees and other essential plants.
“When push comes to shove, this administration is willing to bend over backwards to please the pesticide industry, regardless of the consequences to public health or the environment,” said Nathan Donley, director of environmental health sciences at the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity.
Environmentalists argued that the EPA’s use restrictions are insufficient and allow application for too long and too many days a year. The protection zone suggested by the agency to prevent damage to nearby plants has already proven to be ineffective, they added.
Researchers have been working to better understand the health risks of the herbicide. A 2020 study in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that dicamba exposure was linked to an increased risk of some cancers, including liver cancer and a type of leukemia that affects the blood and bone marrow.
Bayer, the dicamba maker, said federal registration will now allow them to apply for state authorizations. In the coming weeks, it will launch training for users.
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This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool.
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