The main problem with Dikamba is its tendency to flow to unprotected farms and forests. In the four years since dicamba-resistant seeds were first sold, it has damaged millions of acres of farmland. However, two large chemical companies, Bayer and BASF, have proposed what they call a solution that will enable dicamba to remain on the market.
Jacob Bunge of The Wall Street Journal stated that Bayer and BASF are trying to obtain approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because of additives developed by the two companies to combat dicamba drift . These additives are called adjuvants, and the term is also used in medicines, and usually refers to any pesticide blended material that can increase its effectiveness or reduce side effects.
BASF’s adjuvant is called Sentris and is used with the Engenia herbicide based on dicamba. Bayer has not announced the name of its adjuvant, which will work with Bayer’s XtendiMax dicamba herbicide. According to Cotton Grower’s research, these adjuvants work by reducing the number of bubbles in the dicamba mixture. A company engaged in adjuvant processing stated that their product can reduce drift by about 60%.