Joint Ballard/McCracken Dicamba Applicator Training

Situation: As part of the new label requirement for Dicamba products used on Dicamba-Tolerant Soybeans, all applicators, both commercial and private, must attend yearly training on the proper use, handling and application of these products.  

Tom Miller, Ballard County ANR Agent and Kathy Wimberley, McCracken Horticulture Agent, organized a joint meeting for Ballard and McCracken producers at the new Extension Office in McCracken County.  

Rocky Napier, BASF Technical Support Representative conducted the training session on January 24, 2019. At this event 78 applicators were trained with the latest label requirements. Chris Miller, Regional Representative for the Kentucky Dept. of Agriculture (KDA) was on hand to handle record keeping for the meeting and to talk about applicator record keeping for inspections. Also discussed were if there is an application problem this coming year.

Data shows Ballard/ McCracken soybean production is a difficult area for Round Up-Resistant Pigweeds. Also, it is an area where some of the highest percentages of Dicamba-Tolerant Soybeans are planted. Due to efforts on education, there were almost no problems in the 2018 growing season. We hope for the same results in the 2019 season as a result of this training session and others like it across the Commonwealth.