How to Legally Apply Dicamba Products in 2019

Certain dicamba products are in their third season of legal use for over-the-top application in soybeans. However, their legal use is dependent on applicator’s adherence to the regulations in place by EPA and individual states—are you following the law? Is your custom applicator?

On Halloween this past year, EPA provided dicamba manufacturers with a two-year registration for Engenia, Fexapan and Xtendimax products—however, this approval came with new conditions. If these new restrictions aren’t followed it puts applicators and farmers at risk of liability if the product causes off-target damages.

Notable changes to the 2019 label include:

• Only certified applicators can apply the products over-the-top of crops. In the past those working under a certified applicator could apply the products—that is no longer legal.
• No applying dicamba products over-the-top of soybeans 45 days after planting or cotton 60 days after planting.
• Soybeans stay limited to two over-the-top applications and cotton is reduced from four to two over-the-top applications.
• Applications are only permitted between one hour after sunrise and two hours before sunset.
• Counties with endangered species have 57’ buffers required around all sides of the field. The existing downwind buffer of 110’ remains for all counties.
• Dicamba-specific training is required.

Applicators must complete dicamba-specific training and be a certified pesticide applicator. Farmers and commercial applicators alike must meet these requirements.

Dicamba is a restricted use pesticide (RUP). Applicators need to be certified according to EPA, state, territorial and tribal laws, according to EPA. It’s up to the applicators state, territorial and tribal authorities to certify applicators.  To learn more about becoming a certified applicator click here.

Applicators must attend RUP dicamba trainings annually—so, training for the 2018 season does not cover this year. Dicamba-specific trainings are available in a variety of forms including online, in-person, through state agencies and through manufacturers. Here are a few places applicators can look for additional training: BASF schedule, Bayer schedule and Corteva schedule.

Read more about dicamba here:

• Dicamba: Know Before You Apply
• Is Your Sprayer Equipped for Dicamba, 2,4-D Application?
• Dicamba Registration Extended To 2020, Additional Restrictions Apply