EPA Extends Registration on Dicamba for Soybeans

I was very pleased to get the news release Thursday that the Federal Environmental  Protection Agency (EPA) extended the registration of dicamba for another two years for "over the top" use on soybeans and cotton. Farmers are running out of options for controlling  tough weeds like waterhemp post emergence in soybeans. We need this in our "tool box." I have not seen the new label but apparently there are some changes and new restrictions to try and prevent off target movement of dicamba.

The Federal registration from the EPA was the first hurtle to get over so farmers in Minnesota can use dicamba on soybeans next year. The second one is we need approval from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) too. Just before harvest I asked Bob Worth who led the Minnesota Soybean Growers Dicamba Use Task Force about the MDA position on dicamba. He said the MDA was just waiting until we had EPA approval.

Now that that we have EPA approval the MDA will have to determine if and how dicamba will be used on soybeans in Minnesota. State Department of Agriculture's can put more restrictions on or ban a pesticide even if it has gotten Federal approval. So, we should hear before too long if we can use dicamba on soybeans in Minnesota next year!