The EPA has approved revised Engenia^®, Xtendimax® and FeXapan® herbicide labels for 2018.  The main changes are listed below.  Some details will have to be worked out such as what the auxin-specific training might entail that would be different from what many of you took this past winter.

The spin heard from some of the captains of Monsanto would indicate that the dicamba drift issue is “easily” fixable with more education.  They seem to hold to a different definition than I do for the word “easily”.  For instance when I read through all the changes tacked onto an already challenging label to execute it certainly does not look easy.

Moreover, none of the changes address volatility of the new formulations.  Last month I met with most of my weed scientist colleagues in the Mid-South and the Mid-West.  Based on all the recent research they have conducted as well as reports of field visits from my Extension colleagues, most every one agrees that volatility is at the very least a part of all the off-target dicamba.

Regardless we will have to strive for zero drift issues next year. Make no mistake 2018 will be the last strike if we, again,  struggle keeping dicamba in the field. The EPA has made it clear they will let the labels sunset, next fall, if there are significant drift issues.  Which means there is a good chance we will be planting a lot of LL and perhaps Enlist soybeans in 2019.

• *NEW* The supplemental DT uses are now combined into the main label.
  • These requirements, both the new ones for 2018 and the unchanged ones for 2017, now apply to all uses, conventional and dicamba-tolerant.
• *NEW* Engenia herbicide is now a Restricted Use Pesticide.  This designation is at the Federal EPA level.
  • Only certified applicators, and those operating under their guidance, may purchase and apply Engenia herbicide.
• *NEW* Record keeping of all applications is required.
  • Full record keeping requirements are on the label.
  • Records must be generated within 14 days of application, kept for at least two years, and provided to pesticide control officials upon request.
• *NEW* Applicators must complete dicamba or auxin-specific training prior to application.
  • State, university extension, or registrant training (more details to come).
• Travel speed
  • Maximum 15 mph.  *NEW* It is recommended to slow to 5 mph on field edges.
• Wind speed
  • *NEW* Less than 3 mph = DO NOT spray.
  • *NEW* 3 to 10 mph = DO NOT spray if wind is blowing towards neighboring sensitive crops.
  • *NEW* >10 mph = DO NOT spray.
• Rainfall and irrigation
  • *NEW* Rain free interval of 24 hours between application and rainfall or irrigation.
  • Rainfast remains the same at 4 hours.
• Daytime application
  • *NEW* Only apply Engenia herbicide from sunrise until sunset.
  • Outside of this time frame, it is still a requirement not to apply Engenia herbicide when a field level temperature inversion exists.
• Non-Target susceptible plants
  • *NEW* DO NOT apply when wind is blowing in the direction of neighboring sensitive crops, including non-dicamba-tolerant soybeans.
  • *NEW* Sensitive crop awareness as part of the RUP – document that the applicator, at minimum, surveyed neighboring fields or consulted a specialty crop registry.
• Sprayer cleanout
  • *NEW* Spray equipment must be thoroughly cleaned before and after application.
  • *NEW* Cleanout procedures must be documented as part of the RUP (date and method at a minimum).
• Tank-mixing
  • *NEW* Use of an approved buffering agent may be warranted if the water source or tank mix components will create an acidic spray solution less than pH 5.