Registration of Dicamba for Use on Dicamba-Tolerant Crops
In 2018, EPA extended the registration for two years for over-the-top use (use on growing plants) of dicamba to control weeds in cotton and soybeans genetically engineered to tolerate dicamba. Extensive collaboration with the pesticide manufacturers, farmers, state regulators, and other stakeholders informed EPA’s decision. The registration requires label updates that add protective measures to further minimize the potential for off-site plant damage.
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In 2019, EPA registered a product containing a combination of dicamba and S-metolachlor for over-the-top use on dicamba-tolerant cotton and dicamba-tolerant soybeans. This combination of active ingredients is currently an approved tank mix, and as such, is already used over the top on cotton and soybeans. See question #3 below for more information this product.
The registrations for all these dicamba products included an expiration date of Dec. 20, 2020, baring further EPA action to extend the registrations.
On June 3, 2020, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order vacating three of EPA’s pesticide registrations containing the active ingredient dicamba: Xtendimax with Vaporgrip Technology (EPA Reg. No. 524-617); Engenia (EPA Reg. No. 7969-345); and FeXapan (EPA Reg. No. 352-913).
On June 8, 2020, EPA issued a final cancellation order providing farmers with needed clarity following the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ June 3, 2020, vacatur of three dicamba registrations. This cancellation order outlined limited and specific circumstances under which existing stocks of the three affected dicamba products could be used for a limited period of time. EPA’s order advanced protection of public health and the environment by ensuring use of existing stocks follows important application procedures.
On October 27, 2020, EPA announced the registration of two end-use dicamba products and extended the registration for one dicamba product, all for applications only on dicamba-tolerant cotton and dicamba-tolerant soybeans (EPA Registration Numbers 100-1623, 264-1210, and 7969-472). These products will automatically expire in December 2025 unless EPA takes further action to amend the registrations. The new registrations include label changes that will further restrict the use of “over-the-top” (OTT) dicamba applications. This registration action meets the regulatory standard of causing no unreasonable adverse effects to either human health or the environment.
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