I am getting a lot of questions about how the 2024 dicamba ruling will affect soybean production in 2025.

As most of you recall, on Feb. 6, 2024, the U.S. District Court of Arizona vacated the registrations of three dicamba products — Engenia 5L, Xtendimax 2.9L and Tavium 3.39CS — labeled for over-the-top (OTT) use in Xtend and XtendFlex soybean systems.

What this meant, at the time, was that the major manufacturers or registrants of these products were not allowed to sell them anymore, but any dealers with an existing inventory could sell these products until May 31, 2024, and applicators were allowed to spray them, according to their label, until June 30, 2024.

Fast-forward to 2025 and many are wondering about the impacts of this ruling and how it will affect soybean production this upcoming season. At the time of this writing, the ruling is still in effect, and these dicamba products cannot legally be applied to Xtend or XtendFlex soybeans.

It is my understanding that the registrants have submitted documents to the EPA asking for preemergence applications only in XtendFlex systems, but this has not been approved for the 2025 growing season yet.

So, until further notice, none of these dicamba products can be legally used in this platform. Keep in mind that XtendFlex soybeans will be sold and planted this year. Enlist E3 soybeans will be grown as well, which can cause confusion about what herbicides can be used in the two different systems.

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Here are some considerations for using either of them:

Enlist E3

Enlist One (or Duo), glyphosate or glufosinate (Liberty) can be sprayed at burndown, at planting and post (OTT). Any other “conventional” herbicide can be used, too.

Make sure to apply these, and other herbicides, at the correct post timing. Tank-mixing products can improve the weed control spectrum. Also, including residual herbicides in the overall program improves the chances of better weed control while preserving the utility of glufosinate and other important herbicides.

You will also notice that the post application cutoff is different for each product. Be sure to follow these guidelines. Otherwise, poor weed control and other problems can occur:

Enlist One/Duo. Apply Enlist One at 2 pints per acre (Enlist Duo — 4.75 pints). Apply when weeds are no taller than 6 inches and any time after soybean emergence through the R1 growth stage. Make one to two applications with a minimum of 12 days between applications. Do not apply more than 6 pints of Enlist One per acre per year.

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Liberty 280 (or other glufosinate products). Apply 32 to 43 fluid ounces per acre from soybean emergence to bloom, or R1 growth stage. Up to three applications may be applied with a minimum of five days between applications up to a maximum of 87 fluid ounces an acre per year. For best results, apply to emerged, small and actively growing weeds less than 3 inches in height.

Glyphosate. Apply 0.75 to 1.5 pounds per acre (actual product use rate will vary depending on formulation used) from soybean emergence (cracking) through full flowering (R2 stage). R2 soybean stage soybean ends when a pod 5 millimeters (three-sixteenth-inch) long appears at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf (R3 stage). Spray when most weeds are 2 to 8 inches tall.

Other 2,4-D products can’t be applied post but can be used as burndown seven to 14 days before planting depending on rate. Despite the fact that other 2,4-D formulations might not technically injure E3 varieties when sprayed at burndown, according to the label they can’t be applied immediately at planting or postemergence.

Dicamba will injure or kill E3 soybeans, so do not apply post.

XtendFlex

Xtendimax, Engenia, and Tavium currently are not labeled for use in 2025, and thus can’t be legally applied at planting or post.

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Glyphosate or glufosinate can be sprayed post. Any other “conventional” soybean herbicide can be used as well in the program.

Follow the same application guidelines for these herbicides as described under the Enlist E3 section.

Dicamba (Clarity) can be used at burndown, but you must wait 14 days for 8 fluid ounces per acre or less, or 28 days for 16 fluid ounces before planting XtendFlex or other varieties. Plus, at least a 1-inch rainfall must occur during that time frame before planting. Even though other dicamba formulations might not technically injure XtendFlex varieties, according to the label they can’t be applied immediately at planting or postemergence.

2,4-D products can’t be used as burndown seven to 14 days before planting, depending on rate.

2,4-D products can’t be applied post to XtendFlex beans and will injure or kill them.

Many are curious as to how many soybean acres are planted each year in the U.S. and with what platforms. According to National Agricultural Statistics Service data, the U.S. harvested about 86.1 million acres of soybeans in 2024, which is a 3% increase from 2023. Of those, 96% of the acres were planted to an herbicide-resistant seed variety.

The 2025 platform estimates for Pennsylvania and other Northeast states are predicted to be about 70% Enlist E3, 30% XtendFlex and less than 1% others. Of course, these can vary between states and regions.