The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a revised registration for over-the-top use of dicamba herbicides on dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans for the 2025-2026 growing seasons. The new measures are designed to address ongoing concerns about off-target movement and damage to non-target crops and plants.
Key changes include moving the national cutoff date for dicamba application on soybeans to June 12 and on cotton to June 30. The EPA is also reducing the downwind buffer from 240 feet to 180 feet in areas not listed as endangered species habitats, while increasing the buffer to 310 feet in areas where endangered species are present.
The agency stated these revisions are based on extensive review and stakeholder feedback, aiming to provide growers with needed tools while minimizing risks. Dicamba, a volatile herbicide, has been the subject of numerous lawsuits and complaints from farmers alleging crop damage from pesticide drift.
The EPA's decision follows a history of regulatory challenges with dicamba products. The revised labels are a condition of the product registrations, and the agency will continue to monitor incidents and efficacy.
