Stray herbicide hits corn, rice near Advance

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Stray herbicide is causing a dust-up between a Charleston, Mo.-based crop-duster and farmers in the Advance area, but agronomists say the farmers probably have nothing to worry about.

The conflict began when Jason Thompson, owner of Thompson Flying Service, started contracting his services with farmers in the Advance area for the first time. On an early May run, Thompson sprayed the contact herbicide Gramoxone to kill growth on a local field, but some of the chemical got away and landed on nearby farmers' crops.

The chemical came in contact with about 500 acres of corn and 15 acres of rice, said Clay Faries, manager of the farmer-owned Southeast Cooperative Service main branch in Advance. Faries said the damage to the corn is cosmetic, though the damage to the rice could be greater.

But some farmers affected by the stray spray have already formed a bad first impression of the flying service.

Farmer Don Cato said he's farmed near Advance for about 40 years and has never experienced a situation like this one. Although agronomists have told Cato the damage is only in appearance, he worries his yield might be affected. About 160 acres of Cato's corn crop was hit by Gramoxone.

"We'll have to wait until harvest time to find out," Cato said,

David Guethle, an agronomist for the Stoddard County University of Missouri Extension, said he hadn't been informed of the situation near Advance, but it's unlikely that Gramoxone would cause any yield loss from some stray spray, even if it landed on the corn at a crucial time in the plant's reproductive cycle.

However, Guethle said no research exists saying whether it's safe to eat food products sprayed with Gramoxone, but that shouldn't matter for corn because the chemical didn't directly contact the kernels.

Unlike other herbicides that attack plants' root systems, Gramoxone only affects the direct area contacted, Guethle said.

"It hits the plant and fires up the leaf, but that's as far as it will go unless you get a bunch of it there," he said.

Faries called the situation "serious, but it could have been a whole lot worse."

Faries said the root of the problem is largely based in the fact that Thompson just started doing business in the area, and many local farmers aren't yet familiar with him.

Thompson hosted an open fish fry at the Advance Knights of Columbus hall Thursday, inviting farmers to come and get acquainted with him. He already had plans for the fish fry before the May incident, Thompson said, but decided to use the opportunity to explain his side of the situation to the farmers and let them know he's prepared to work with them to fix any harm caused.

"If I was trying to hide, I wouldn't be up here now," Thompson told the large gathering of farmers at the fish fry. "You can talk to me any time."

Thompson said he hoped any farmers affected would come talk to him and that, if they do experience yield loss, he'll work with them on compensation.

msanders@semissourian

335-6611, extension 182