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Dicamba back for 2026: training, compliance and planning encouraged

Weed scientist Kevin Bradley at the University of Missouri says caution, planning and good communication will be required from farmers who plan to use over-the-top dicamba to manage weeds this growing season.

“Talk, talk, talk. You’ve got to talk to your neighbors about what you intend to do with planting so there can at least be some coordination there.”

The U.S. EPA has approved three new over-the-top dicamba labels with stricter application guidelines and Bradley says “I’m back to where I was in 2016. I spent a lot of my winter saying I hope, I hope, I hope this isn’t going to be detrimental. We’ll see.”

Historically, Bradley says applying over-the-top dicamba has been complex, because the herbicide tends to move through vapor. He says updated guidelines, like increasing the use of volatility reduction agents, could reduce movement, but “I’m not sure I know any university person who has looked as some of these new requirements to see.”

Missouri Ag Director Chris Chinn says the new labels require additional record keeping and applicator trainings.

“There’s going to be training, the registrants/manufacturers are going to have to put together that are going to be EPA approved. What I would tell farmers is to reach out to your dealer to find out where that training will be available to you so you’re trained before you use that product.”

Soybean and cotton farmers use over-the-top dicamba to control tough weeds, like pigweeds and kochia during the growing season,and organizations have responded positively to the EPA’s decision to issue new herbicide labels.

However, litigation has followed the EPA’s label approvals, which could bring uncertainty for applicators heading into spring. Bradley says farmers should follow the label, closely monitor any litigation, have a flexible weed and management plan in place.

“There are some that will use it and others already have their plans in place to go with a different trait, like Enlist or whatever,” he says. “But those growers who were already planing to use Xtend Flex, and there are many, now they have the option to use an approved label dicamba product.”

Chinn tells Brownfield Missouri plans to only follow the federal over-the-top dicamba label this season. 

Hear Brownfield’s interview with Ag Director Chris Chinn.

Hear Brownfield’s interview with Kevin Bradley.