Prairie Farmer Logo

Illinois Dept. of Ag announces dicamba decision

State lists tighter application cutoff date for June 20 as allowed under new rules from EPA

December 23, 2020

2 Min Read
clean-soybeans-willie-vogt.jpg
DICAMBA RULES: The Illinois Department of Agriculture not only tightened the application window, but continues its daytime temperature restrictions too.Willie Vogt

The Illinois Dept. of Agriculture has registered XtendiMax with Vapor Grip Technology, Engenia Herbicide and Tavium Plus Vapor Grip Technology for use in 2021. The new federal label for dicamba was issued by EPA on Oct. 27, 2020.

IDOA restated the new federal label requirements for these products that include:

  • Use of an approved pH-buffering agent, also known as a volatility reduction agent, be tank mixed with dicamba products prior to all applications

  • Requiring a downwind buffer of 240, which expands to 310 feet in areas where listed endangered species are located.

  • Additional recordkeeping items for farmers.

The federal label also includes a cutoff date of June 30 for application of these products on soybeans. However, IDOA is using its authority under Section 24(a) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and relevant provisions of the Illinois Pesticide Act to impose a cutoff date of June 20 for application on soybeans. In addition to the June 20 cutoff date, IDOA also intends to include the following added application restrictions for application of these products in soybeans:

  • Temperature restriction of 85 degrees F

  • Requirement to consult the Field Watch sensitive crop registry fieldwatch.com before application

  • Prohibiting application if the wind is blowing toward any Illinois Nature Preserves Commission site that is adjacent to the proposed field of application

  • Prohibiting application when the wind is blowing toward an adjacent residential area

In announcing the decision, Jerry Costello II, acting IDOA director, says "this decision was made after evaluating several factors, including the reduction of pesticide misuse cases involving the use of dicamba on soybeans from 2019 and 2020." He adds that in 2020 the department included an 85 degree F temperature restriction in addition to the June 20 cutoff date, "resulting in an 80% decrease in dicamba misuse complaints."

Related: Environmental groups sue EPA on dicamba registration

Dicamba is a herbicide used on soybeans and cotton. Illinois ranks first in the nation for soybean production producing 532 million bushels of soybeans per year. The July 30 cutoff date for use on cotton will not be affected by this IDOA news.

Source: Illinois Department of Agriculture. The source is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like