You won't have much time to get the new dicamba products applied on soybeans. The cutoff in North Dakota is June 20.

"Compounding this will be the compressed nature of our application window due to the late spring," says Andrew Thostenson, North Dakota State University Extension pesticide program specialist. "Most crops will be planted in a 2-3 week window and everything will need spraying about the same time."

Another problem: Night spraying isn't allowed, and in North Dakota you can't spray during the hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset to minimize the risk of drift occurring due to an air inversion.

Further, you can only spray when the wind speed is between 3 and 10 mph. and you can't exceed 12 mph when spraying.

You'll also have to spend more time cleaning out sprayers and handling equipment. In North Dakota, you'll have to shuttle more water to the field — 15 gallons per acre instead of 10. You'll have additional recordkeeping to do to comply with the label.

"From a practical perspective, time will be very short, especially in June, when most post applications will be made," Thostenson says.

Thostenson and Liz Stahl, University of Minnesota Extension educator, recommends doing two things to ensure that you are ready to apply dicamba when conditions are "go."

1. Plan ahead. When everything is a good to spray, spray. Do not be doing those tasks that can be done ahead of time, like checking sensitive crops registries, or consulting the manufacturer's tank-mixing and nozzle options, or trying to figure out an app or a new handheld anemometer. Plan ahead and use every precious moment you have to maximize your time spraying when conditions are right.

2. Prioritize spray jobs. Consider handing off some of your other spray work to those who may be more efficient in covering acres. In some situations, hiring an airplane might make good sense. Be aware, while custom applicators are open to opportunities, they aren't looking to increase headaches with new customers that have unrealistic expectations or do not have payment logistics lined out. Most have clients they have been working with for years. They will have priority over new business, and especially business that expects them to respond like a house is burning down. If you have not worked with a custom applicator in a while, whether by ground or air, it would be best to start having conversations with them sooner rather than later.

Sources: NDSU and UM Extension