The University of Arkansas on Friday defended one of its weed scientists criticized by Monsanto, and a crop consultant said the company was "absolutely wrong" in its characterization of him.
In a 33-page document, with several dozen more "exhibits" attached, Monsanto made several claims Thursday alleging that the state Plant Board was biased and violated Arkansas law in how it has responded to allegations that the dicamba herbicide has damaged crops and other vegetation. Monsanto sent the packet to the Plant Board and Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
Monsanto made reference to Jason Norsworthy, a professor and weed scientist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and Ford Baldwin, a UA weed scientist from 1974 to 2002 who started a consulting business after retirement at his home in Austin in Lonoke County.
In seeking to have its new dicamba herbicide allowed in Arkansas next year, Monsanto said recent decisions by the Plant Board and a volunteer task force were "tainted" by information from Norsworthy and Baldwin.
Mark Cochran, vice president for agriculture for the UA System, said in statement, "This petition [by Monsanto] isn't just about a single herbicide, but it's an attack on a whole profession -- scientists whose careful work is meant to be of benefit to all."
"We stand by the integrity of our scientists and their science, including Dr. Jason Norsworthy, our internationally recognized researcher and his work," Cochran said.
The task force met twice last month, eventually recommending that the Plant Board prohibit spraying of dicamba after April 15, or just prior to the start of most farmers' planting season. An April 15 cutoff essentially defeats the purpose of products like Monsanto's Xtendimax and BASF's Engenia herbicides for spraying across crops genetically engineered by Monsanto to be tolerant of dicamba.
Monsanto said Norsworthy has "endorsed" crop technologies by Bayer, a Monsanto competitor, because he is quoted on a promotional flier for Bayer's LibertyLink soybeans, which aren't dicamba-tolerant.
Cochran said UA researchers do not endorse products "but sometimes companies use our public comments and statements without permission."
The company also criticized recent field tests by Norsworthy regarding the tendency of dicamba, including Monsanto's Xtendimax, to move off target and damage susceptible crops.
Norsworthy, who couldn't be reached for comment, has often said at Plant Board meetings and other farm-related gatherings that farmers need new technology, including dicamba, but must use "multiple modes of action" in fighting weeds. Relying on a single herbicide or technology hastens weeds' tolerance of that herbicide, he has said.
He told the dicamba task force that, with his tests showing that the new dicamba herbicides can move off target, he couldn't recommend that the state allow any of the chemicals next year. Monsanto said its investigations have shown most problems were caused by applicator error.
Cochran said the results of tests by Norsworthy are "consistent with research in other states," including field tests by university scientists in Missouri, Tennessee and other states where dicamba complaints have been filed. He said the university will study each of Monsanto's points, including its "exhibits," but noted that the documents were "appearing and disappearing" from the company's website on Friday.
Monsanto said Baldwin is a "paid consultant" for Bayer and spoke "in support of a statewide ban" on dicamba during the task force's first meeting, on Aug. 17.
"That is false, absolutely wrong," Baldwin said of Monsanto's claim that he spoke in favor of the ban. "I never made any recommendation to the task force, although I agree with the decision they made."
Sam Murphey, a Monsanto official, said Friday that the company's mention of Baldwin was based "on information provided to us by a person" who attended the meeting. Monsanto had several representatives at the task force's meetings Aug. 17 and Aug. 24 atop Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton. Murphey said a transcript of the meeting isn't available and didn't retract the company's claim.
Baldwin said Bayer is one of many clients at his consulting firm. He said Monsanto and the Plant Board have long known of his work with Bayer and other companies and with farmers across the United States.
"I have frequently reminded them of that when they [Plant Board] have called upon me for my professional opinions," he said. "I can only assume they trusted that I could render those without bias."
Monsanto also criticized Baldwin for being an "expert witness" in at least one lawsuit filed against Monsanto, by a peach farmer in Southeast Missouri who said he lost several thousand peach trees last year to dicamba damage.
Baldwin said his work on that lawsuit and others is "common knowledge."
"In those, I will render a professional opinion if called upon," he said.
Baldwin also noted he urged the Plant Board last year to allow BASF's Engenia into the Arkansas market for in-crop use this season. "Farmers needed the technology, and I understood that need," Baldwin said.
He said the board was on the verge of prohibiting the use of all dicamba formulations after April 15. "I noted that if they did not go forward with at least Engenia, there could be no possible path forward for the Xtend technology," he said. "In hindsight, perhaps it was a mistake, but I thought the technology deserved a chance, as we do need new weed-control tools. Beyond that, I feel no need to defend my reputation or integrity as a weed scientist who stands on unbiased research."
Danny Finch, a farmer and Plant Board member from Jonesboro, backed up Baldwin.
Finch said he was the member who made a motion last year for the April 15 cutoff date. "We gave the technology a chance, and it hasn't worked out so well," he said.
On July 11, a 120-day emergency ban on the sale and use of all dicamba went into effect, a decision Monsanto called shortsighted.
Finch also stood by Norsworthy and his weed scientist colleagues. "Those guys did a great job on their volatility studies," he said. "Anybody can understand that. For Monsanto to say they have a low-volatility chemical is just not right."
The Plant Board, he said, acted correctly in pushing for third-party, independent research and not just relying on Monsanto's in-house tests of its Xtendimax herbicide.
The pesticide committee of the Plant Board meets Tuesday in Jonesboro to discuss the cutoff recommendation. The full board next meets Sept. 21 in Little Rock.
Business on 09/09/2017