After various crops across the United States received significant injury from products containing the herbicide dicamba during 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made it a restricted use pesticide for 2018. That designation means a new set of rules, regulations and an educational component for those who want to continue to apply products containing the herbicide.

Extension weed scientists with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment are just one group offering workshops to help Kentucky applicators comply with the new rules.

Kentucky producers are not without their share of issues related to this herbicide. UK Cooperative Extension Service agents reported nearly 35,000 acres of soybeans and 62 acres of tobacco with dicamba injury in 2017. Most of these reports occurred between June 15 and July 31.

“Our affected acreage is much lower than surrounding states, but when you look at it in proportion to the acres of soybeans grown, it is on track with reports from those states,” said Travis Legleiter, UK extension weed scientist. “Most tobacco producers avoid use of products containing dicamba because any evidence of exposure to dicamba can result in a loss of their market contract.”

Legleiter and fellow UK extension weed scientist J.D. Green will offer trainings that will discuss the new restrictions and highlight the sensitivity of soybeans and tobacco that are not tolerant to dicamba as well as other crops that could receive potential damage.

“We are going to highlight the importance of the applicator being aware when the product is applied and discuss scenarios where the product should not be applied,” Legleiter said.

The UK trainings, approved by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, are as follows. All times are local.

·         1-3 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Taylor County Extension office

·         1:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Owensboro Convention Center

·         9-11 a.m. Feb. 9 at the Hardin County Extension office

·         1-3 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Ballard Convention Center in Madisonville

·         6-8 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Mason County Extension office

·         9-11 a.m. Feb. 15 at the Christian County Extension office

·         9-11 a.m. Feb. 20 at the Grand Rivers Senior Community Center

·         9-11 a.m. Feb. 23 at the Warren County Extension office

·         1-3 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Hal Rogers Regional Fire Training Center in Somerset

·         9-11 a.m. Feb. 27 at the Carlisle County Extension office

·         9 a.m.- 12 p.m. March 5 at the Shelby County Extension office