Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Daiber called Thursday for Illinois to join Missouri and Arkansas in imposing a ban on the herbicide dicamba.

 

“I do not believe there are safeguards in place as of this day to safely use the herbicide in its current state,” said Daiber, who is himself a farmer planting corn and soybeans.

 

He noted bans on the herbicide’s use in Missouri and Arkansas and said he was concerned about the fact that of 430 pesticide-related complaints filed with the state Department of Agriculture last year, 246 were related to dicamba.

 

Daiber said the overall health of the soybean industry — where Illinois led the nation last year in total bushels harvested and in per-acre yield — is threatened by the chemical’s use.

 

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