Changes to Dicamba-Containing Products Used in Soybean

Share

On February 6, 2024, a federal court in Arizona vacated the labels of three dicamba-containing products used for in-crop broadleaf weed control in dicamba-resistant soybean varieties. The court ruled that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) violated the Federal Fungicide, Insecticide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) when the agency relabeled these products following the previous label vacatur issued by the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2020. It is important to clarify this recent court ruling and label vacatur affects only three products: XtendiMax (Bayer CropScience), Engenia (BASF), and Tavium (Syngenta). All other dicamba-containing products are NOT affected by the Arizona court ruling.

Following the Arizona court ruling, EPA issued an order to allow application of existing stocks of these three dicamba-containing products previously registered for application in dicamba-resistant soybean varieties. EPA defines “existing stocks” to mean “those stocks of previously registered pesticide products that are currently in the United States and were packaged, labeled, and released for shipment prior to February 6, 2024.”

To clarify this procedural action, EPA provided the following information: “Once a pesticide product is registered, FIFRA requires the product not be used inconsistent with its labeling. If a pesticide product is cancelled by EPA or vacated by a court, the pesticide is no longer registered and use consistent with the previously approved labeling is no longer controlled under FIFRA unless EPA issues an existing stocks order pursuant to FIFRA section 6(a), which provides that: “The Administrator may permit the continued sale and use of existing stocks of a pesticide whose registration is suspended or canceled under sections 3, 4 or 6 of FIFRA to such extent, under such conditions, and for such uses as the Administrator determines that such sale or use is not inconsistent with the purposes of FIFRA.”

“This provision of FIFRA allows EPA to issue orders governing the sale, distribution, and use of existing stocks for a pesticide that has been sold with the imprimatur of a registration where that registration is cancelled. Existing stocks orders can authorize sale or distribution that would otherwise be unlawful and prohibit use that would otherwise be lawful. They can also contain limitations or conditions on the sale, distribution, or use that EPA determines are appropriate to ensure that the sale, distribution and use is not inconsistent with the purposes of FIFRA.”

The EPA order for use of exiting stocks can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-02/dicamba-notice-existing-stocks-order_02142024.pdf

This action by EPA will allow Illinois weed management practitioners to use existing stocks of XtendiMax, Engenia, and Tavium consistent with the previously approved labeling (including training requirements, record keeping requirements, consultation with Bulletins Live! Two, etc.) for the products. Use of existing stocks also will be governed by the additional application restrictions imposed by the state of Illinois for use during the 2023 growing season. A summary of provisions for utilization of existing stocks of these products in Illinois during the 2024 growing season appears in Table 1.

Table 1. Provisions for the utilization of existing stocks of XtendiMax, Engenia, and Tavium in Illinois during the 2024 growing season.

End Date for Sale &Distribution of ExistingStocksEnd Date for Use of ExistingStocksAdditional use provisions for Illinois include: 
May 13, 2024June 12, 2024, or V4 growth stage (soybean), whichever comes first. These products shall not be applied on soybeans if the air temperature at the field at the time of application is over 85 degrees Fahrenheit or if the National Weather Service’s forecasted high temperature for the nearest available location for the day of application exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Local National Weather Service forecasts are available at https://www.weather.gov. Before applying these products on soybean, the applicator shall consult the FieldWatch sensitive crop registry (https://www.fieldwatch.com) and comply with all associated recordkeeping and label requirements. Application of these products shall not be made if the wind is blowing toward: any Illinois Nature Preserves Commission site that is adjacent to the field of application; or an adjacent residential area.

***Courtesy of Aaron Hager, Department of Crop Sciences University of Illinois***

Spread the word

Trending Now

Featured News Podcasts

Subscribe to our Community Newsletter

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Prairie Communications, 55 Public Square, Monmouth, IL, 61462, https://977wmoi.com/. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Choose a Category

Continue Reading