Dicamba Gets New Life and Improved Label

EPA announced the two-year extension of the registration of dicamba for over-the-top use of weed control in corn and soybean plants that are dicamba-resistant

In 2016, EPA received 117 complaints of dicamba injury in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. In Missouri alone, EPA reports damage from dicamba misuse was reported on more than 42,000 acres of crops including peaches, tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelon, peas, and other row crops.

In the announcement, the EPA says the downwind buffer will remain at 110 feet and includes a new 57-foot buffer on the other side of the field. The new label also prohibits sprays of dicamba 45 days after planting soybeans and 60 days after planting cotton. Cotton applications will be reduced from four to two over-the-top applications and soybeans will remain at two over-the-top applications.