2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Because of frequent off-target movement of auxinic herbicides to sensitive high value crops, we began a comprehensive educational program in 2011 that stresses the importance of proper stewardship with the use of pasture herbicides. Our goals were to reduce the occurrence and impact of off-target damage to sensitive, high value crops; and to create educational materials and other tools to help with the diagnosis of suspected cases of off-target damage. The initial funding was obtained via a grant and continued funding from Philip Morris International. Later, additional funding was obtained from Altria Client Services, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont Crop Protection, and Monsanto. We focused on four crops (tobacco, cotton, tomato and grape) and five herbicides (2,4-D, dicamba, aminopyralid, aminocyclopyrachlor and picloram) for the creation of educational materials and diagnostic tools. These include still images, time lapse videos and fact sheets; and we made them available through our initial website, herbicidestewardship.utk.edu; it became accessible in 2014. Later it was simplified to herbicidestewardship.com. In 2016, 2017, and again in 2018, widespread problems with dicamba drift occurred in the Midsouth on numerous sensitive crops as a result of in-crop applications of the herbicide in dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybean varieties. In 2017 we broadened our website to include additional information directly addressing stewardship of dicamba and 2,4-D tolerant crop technology. Because producers, even with their best efforts, were having difficulty keeping dicamba within target fields, we began active laboratory and field research programs looking for answers. We have actively provided herbicide stewardship training for growers and other applicators, dealers, and Extension Agents for the past 3 years. And, because proper herbicide stewardship will continue to be even more critical going forward we have incorporated herbicide stewardship training into our undergraduate and graduate curricula.