Dicamba

February 14, 2024, USEPA issued an Existing Stocks Policy allowing use of the over-the-top dicamba formulations on soybeans and cotton in 2024. The products affected are XtendiMax by Bayer, Engenia by BASF and Tavium by Syngenta.  EPA’s order allows use of the herbicide already distributed from these registrants.  Use of these products must follow the restrictions on the label and any state specific restrictions that are in place.  Registrants are not allowed to distribute any products that weren’t already in the channels of trade by the February 6^th court decision.  Retail ag center, co-ops, etc. who had products on hand by February 6^th are allowed to sell and distribute the products according to state specific deadlines.  Use of the product is allowed until the cutoff date of June 12^th or V4 growth stage in soybeans.

In Illinois, No distribution or sale of these products is allowed after May 13, 2024.

No application may occur after June 12, 2024 or V4 growth stage in soybeans.

All Illinois specific application restrictions must still be followed:

DO Not Apply if the air temperature at the field at the time of application is over 85 degrees Fahrenheit or if the National Weather Service forecasted high temperature for the nearest available location for the day of application exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit.  (Local National Weather Service forecast available at https://www.weather.gov)

DO NOT apply when the wind is blowing toward adjacent residential areas.

DO NOT apply when the wind is blowing toward any adjacent Illinois Nature Preserves Commission Site.

Must consult FieldWatch sensitive crop registry before application.

DO NOT apply after June 12^th.  (The federal cutoff date of June 12^th supersedes the State specific restriction of June 20^th )

 

February 6, 2024, The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona in Tucson vacated the 2020 USEPA approved registrations for the three over the top (OTT) dicamba products labeled for use on soybeans and cotton.  The products affected are XtendiMax by Bayer, Engenia by BASF and Tavium by Syngenta.  Pending EPA action, no distribution, sale or use of these products is allowed.


 

February 16, 2023, USEPA approved labeling amendments that further restrict the use of over-the-top dicamba in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and South Dakota.  The amendments were made at the request of the registrants and affect the following products: Bayer-Xtendimax, BASF-Engenia, and Syngenta-Tavium. 

The revised labeling prohibits the use of over-the-top dicamba application on dicamba tolerant crops after June 12^th or V4 in soybeans in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana and after June 20^th in South Dakota.

The JUNE 12^th cutoff date supersedes the Illinois specific cutoff date of June 20^th .
ALL other Illinois Specific Requirements remain in place.

• A pesticide containing dicamba shall not be applied on soybeans if the air temperature at the field at the time of application is over 85 degrees Fahrenheit or if the National Weather Service's forecasted high temperature for the nearest available location for the day of application exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Local National Weather Service forecasts are available at https://www.weather.gov.
• Before applying a pesticide containing dicamba on soybeans, the applicator shall consult the FieldWatch sensitive crop registry (https://www.fieldwatch.com ) and comply with all associated recordkeeping and label requirements.
• Application on soybeans of a pesticide containing dicamba shall not be made if the wind is blowing toward: any Illinois Nature Preserves Commission site that is adjacent to the field of application; or an adjacent residential area.

Friday, December 17, 2021
SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Department of Agriculture's (IDOA) proposed administrative rules for the use of Dicamba on soybeans were published in the Secretary of State's Illinois Register today. The proposed restrictions for dicamba use on soybeans are the same restrictions that were required in 2021. The publication of the rules in the Illinois Register begins the First Notice period, during which IDOA must accept comments from the public.

In October 2020, USEPA announced that it had renewed the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) registrations for three dicamba pesticides for growing seasons 2021-2025. Contrary to prior practice, USEPA declared that the only way for states to add safety restrictions to these products is through Section 24(a) of FIFRA, which allows a state to add restrictions through its rulemaking process.

In February 2021, IDOA filed emergency rules detailing additional restrictions for dicamba application on soybeans for the 2021 growing season. Since the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act prohibits state agencies from adopting emergency rules more than once in any 24-month period, the Department is now required to proceed with the permanent rulemaking process.

In addition to the requirements of the federally-approved labels, IDOA's proposed rules include the following requirements for the use of pesticides containing dicamba on soybeans:

• A pesticide containing dicamba shall not be applied on soybeans if the air temperature at the field at the time of application is over 85 degrees Fahrenheit or if the National Weather Service's forecasted high temperature for the nearest available location for the day of application exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Local National Weather Service forecasts are available at 

  https://www.weather.gov

  .
• Application on soybeans of a pesticide containing dicamba shall not be made after June 20 of each year.
• Before applying a pesticide containing dicamba on soybeans, the applicator shall consult the FieldWatch sensitive crop registry (

  https://www.fieldwatch.com

  ) and comply with all associated recordkeeping and label requirements.
• Application on soybeans of a pesticide containing dicamba shall not be made if the wind is blowing toward: any Illinois Nature Preserves Commission site that is adjacent to the field of application; or an adjacent residential area.

"The number of off-target complaints received over the past two growing seasons has declined dramatically since implementing changes to label restrictions," said Jerry Costello II, Director, IDOA. "The decision to keep these rules in place was made after evaluating several factors, including the reduction of pesticide misuse cases involving the use of dicamba on soybeans from 2019 to 2020."

In addition to these provisions, applicators must follow the federal guidelines when it comes to applying dicamba, including taking annual Dicamba specific training and be a certified applicator. 

The intent of these additional restrictions is to reduce the potential for off-target movement of this product, thereby reducing the potential for possible adverse impacts to dicamba-sensitive crops/areas. Dicamba is primarily used on soybeans to control post-emergence broadleaf weeds.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) released emergency administrative rules detailing additional restrictions for dicamba application on soybeans for the 2021 growing season.

In October 2020, USEPA announced that it had renewed the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) registrations for three dicamba pesticides for growing seasons 2021-2025. Contrary to prior practice, USEPA declared that the only way for states to add safety restrictions to these products is through Section 24(a) of FIFRA, which allows a state to add restrictions through its rulemaking process.

IDOA filed emergency rules effective February 5, 2021. Impacted registrations include: XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology, Engenia Herbicide and Tavium Plus VaporGrip Technology.

In addition to the requirements of the federally-approved labels, all use of pesticides containing dicamba on soybeans in Illinois must comply with the following requirements:

• TEMPERATURE RESTRICTION

  A pesticide containing dicamba

  shall not

  be applied on soybeans if the air temperature at the field at the time of application is over 85 degrees Fahrenheit or if the National Weather Service's forecasted high temperature for the nearest available location for the day of application exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Local National Weather Service forecasts are available at https://www.weather.gov.

   
• CUT-OFF DATE RESTRICTION

  Application on soybeans of a pesticide containing dicamba 

  shall not be made after June 20 of each year.
   

• Before applying a pesticide containing dicamba on soybeans, the applicator shall consult the FieldWatch sensitive crop registry (

  https://www.fieldwatch.com

  ) and comply with all associated recordkeeping and label requirements.
   
• Application on soybeans of a pesticide containing dicamba shall not be made if the wind is blowing toward:
  • any Illinois Nature Preserves Commission site that is adjacent to the field of application; or

  • an adjacent residential area.

    
    

"After the announcement of the USEPA decision and as the lead agency of pesticide regulation in the State of Illinois, the Department quickly looked at options to allow farmers to make their input decisions for the 2021 growing season in a timely manner," said Acting Director Jerry Costello II. "Illinois is the number one soybean producing state in the nation, and it's critical to balance the use of this important tool (dicamba) while also protecting surrounding farmers, landowners, specialty crops, trees, forests, and natural areas.

In 2019, IDOA received 723 dicamba-related complaints. Subsequently, IDOA initiated a June 20 application cut-off date and 85-degree temperature restriction, which led in part to an 80% (147) decrease in dicamba-related complaints in 2020.

IDOA's Rules for the use of pesticides containing dicamba on soybeans can be viewed at:

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/volume45/register_volume45_issue_7.pdf

On October 27, 2020, EPA announced the registration of two end-use dicamba products (Engenia (BASF) and Xtendiamax with VaporGrip Technology (Bayer)) and extended the registration for one dicamba product (Tavium with VaporGrip Technology (Syngenta)), all for applications only on dicamba-tolerant cotton and dicamba-tolerant soybeans (EPA Registration Numbers 100-1623, 264-1210, and 7969-472). These product registrations are valid until December 2025 unless EPA takes further action to amend the registrations.

Engenia:
Engenia Herbicide Label - EPA Reg. No. 7969-472

Tavium:
Tavium with VaporGrip Technology Label – EPA Reg. No. 100-1623

XtendiMax:
Xtendimax with VaporGrip Technology Label – EPA Reg. No. 264-1210

New Application Requirements for 2021

Although many of the label restrictions for all three products remained the same, below is a listing of changes or additions to the federally approved labels:

• In-field, downwind buffer increased to 240' from 110'
• Requires use of a qualified VRA (volatility reduction agent)/pH buffering adjuvant in the tank for every application
• Endangered Species Areas – Downwind buffer increased to 310' from 110'
• Endangered Species Counties have changed.  Currently 18 Illinois counties instead of 29.  Visit

  www.epa.gov/espp

  for details.
• Cleaner label structure – fewer pages. Only includes pre- and post-emergent uses for DT soybean and cotton – conventional crop and non-crop uses have been removed from the label
• Qualified Hooded Sprayer option added to allow for a reduction in spray drift buffers
• 5-year Registration Date – Ends in 2025
• Additional Training and Record Keeping Requirements
• Federal Cut-off dates of June 30^th for Soybeans and July 30^th for cotton (Illinois Cut-Off Date is June 20^th per state specific restrictions)

Dicamba Training 

Prior to applying dicamba, applicators must complete dicamba-specific training on an annual basis. Training and certification programs are offered on-line at no charge by all three registrants.

Engenia Training Opportunities:
https://www.engeniaherbicide.com/stewardship.html

Tavium Training Opportunities:
https://www.syngenta-us.com/herbicides/tavium-application-stewardship

XtendiMax Training Opportunities:
https://www.roundupreadyxtend.com/stewardship/Pages/default.aspx

Certified Applicators Only

Certified Commercial and commercial not for hire applicators must at a minimum hold a valid applicator's license which consists of passing the general standards exam in addition to at a minimum the field crop category exam.  Commercial and commercial not for hire operators are not allowed to apply these dicamba products under the supervision of their applicator. 

Certified Private applicators must pass the private applicator exam.  Hired hands are not allowed to apply these dicamba products under the supervision of a licensed private applicator.

All certified applicators must meet the annual dicamba specific training requirements prior to making applications of these dicamba products.

Dicamba Record Keeping Requirements 

The federal label requires numerous elements to be kept for every individual dicamba application. Records must be generated within 72 hours after application and a record must be kept for every individual application.

Although not required, each registrant has sample forms available that can be used for assistance in recordkeeping. Records are required to be kept for 2 years.  Records must be made available to state pesticide control officials upon request.

Engenia Recordkeeping Form:
https://www.engeniaherbicide.com/content/dam/cxm/agriculture/engenia-herbicide/stewardship/application-checklist/documents/Engenia_Record_Keeping_Form_12-8-20.pdf

Tavium Recordkeeping Form:
https://www.ifca.com/files/Tavium%20Recordkeeping.pdf

Xtendimax Recordkeeping Form:
https://www.roundupreadyxtend.com/Documents/xtendimax-record-keeping-form-v2.pdf

Endangered Species Requirements

To protect federally listed threatened and endangered species, both a 310-foot in-field wind-directional spray drift buffer and a 57-foot omnidirectional in-field buffer are required for the following Illinois Counties: Bureau, Effingham, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Kankakee, LaSalle, Livingston, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Peoria, Pike, Schuyler, St. Clair, Tazewell and Will.  Currently 18 Illinois counties instead of 29 as required in the 2018 dicamba labels. 

If your pesticide label directs you to the Bulletin Web site, you are required to follow the pesticide use limitation(s) found in the Bulletin for your intended application area, pesticide active ingredient or product and application month.

Bulletins may be accessed up to six months before pesticide application. Be sure that you follow the correct Bulletin for the month of your pesticide application.

The following areas may be included in the buffer distance calculation when directly adjacent to the treated field edges:

1. Roads, paved or gravel surfaces, mowed grassy areas adjacent to field, and bare ground from recent plowing or grading that are contiguous with the treated field.
2. Planted agricultural fields containing dicamba-resistant plantings of cotton and soybeans.
3. Areas covered by the footprint of a building, silo, or other manmade structure with walls and/or roof.

Planted agricultural fields containing corn or crops other than dicamba-resistant plantings of cotton or soybeans are not allowed to be used in the endangered species buffer distance calculations.

Additional Information:

For additional, product specific information, please visit the registrant webpages as listed below:

Engenia Herbicide:
https://www.engeniaherbicide.com/

Tavium Plus VaporGrip Technology Herbicide:
https://www.syngenta-us.com/herbicides/tavium

Xtendimax Herbicide with VaporGrip Technology:
https://www.roundupreadyxtend.com/products/Pages/xtendimax.aspx