The Texas House of Representatives Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 14, 2022, to hear invited testimony on the chemical drift caused by dicamba affecting Texas wine producers.
Read TWGGA’s advocacy update regarding the hearing here.
Dicamba, as an herbicide, has been on the market, in some iteration, for a number of years. It was not until the development of the dicamba-resistant cotton seed that the herbicide began having a dramatic impact on the grape vines of the Texas Panhandle. What was once becoming a high-yield, low-water alternative to cotton farming on the High Plains is now a plant and an industry fighting for survival.
The following pictures are examples of the ongoing damage being wrought on this fledging industry.
Pile of Cabernet Sauvignon dead wood in 2020 due to dicamba drift.
Photo of Lehey block showing on left a block planted before dicamba-ready cotton was released, and on right, a block with a horrible stand planted after technology release.
Photo of cold injured vine pushing suckers in early April showing severe dicamba injury symptoms. These appeared months before any dicamba sprayed on cotton in region.
Vines showing signs of dicamba spray.
Vines showing signs of dicamba spray.
Vines showing signs of dicamba spray.
Comparative photos of same varieties in the High Plains vs. Hill Country one week apart. No dicamba used near the Hill Country vineyard.
Comparative photos of same varieties in the High Plains vs. Hill Country one week apart. No dicamba used near the Hill Country vineyard.
Comparative photos of same varieties in the High Plains vs. Hill Country one week apart. No dicamba used near the Hill Country vineyard.
Comparative photos of same varieties in the High Plains vs. Hill Country one week apart. No dicamba used near the Hill Country vineyard.