The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently approved over the top (OTT) use of approved dicamba formulations in dicamba-tolerant soybeans for the 2021 through the 2025 growing season. This will allow for over-the top use of dicamba in dicamba-tolerant soybeans to manage tough to control weeds such as waterhemp and marestail. With new federal registrations come some additional restrictions for the upcoming growing season to follow. The new label restrictions will ensure a safe and effective application that addresses concerns that some may have faced under the former labels. The changes include:
- These products are not to be applied after June 30th in dicamba tolerant soybeans and July 30th in dicamba tolerant cotton.
- The labels no longer have a 45 day after planting application restriction.
- Do not apply less than OR more than 0.5 lb ae/A (Xtendimax-22 oz/A, Engenia-12.8 oz/A, Tavium-3.53 pt/A) for any single application, preemergence or postemergence.
- Do not apply more than 2 lb ae/A total in all applications for combine year (1 lb ae/A preplant/preemergence and 1lb ae/A postemergence).
- Applicators must maintain a 240-foot downwind buffer from the downwind outer edge of the field.
- Do not apply when wind is blowing toward a sensitive crop (see label for list)
- Applicators must maintain a 310-foot downwind buffer from the downwind outer edge of the field in a county with an endangered species present while also maintaining a 57-foot omnidirectional buffer on the remaining sides of the field.
- The use of an approved drift reduction adjuvant (DRA) is now mandatory for every tank mix.
- The use of an approved volatility reduction adjuvant (VRA) is now mandatory for every tank mix.
The re-registration of the approved dicamba formulations for over-the-top use in dicamba-tolerant soybeans ensures that this tool remains viable to manage tough-to-control weeds. Contact your local Crop Specialist with any questions regarding these label changes or to purchase dicamba-tolerant soybeans.