By Scout Nelson
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced that state-specific restrictions will apply to three of the top dicamba herbicide products during the 2026 growing season. These limits are designed to reduce off-site movement and protect neighboring crops and plants.
The affected products are Engenia by BASF, Tavium by Syngenta, and XtendiMax by Bayer. These dicamba formulations are restricted to the use of pesticides approved only for dicamba-tolerant soybeans. Applicators are required to check the manufacturer's website within seven days before application.
Dicamba use was halted last year after a 2024 court decision vacated a registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. On Feb 6, the EPA registered the three products for the next two seasons. Minnesota renewed registration as well with added state restrictions. In Minnesota, pesticide registrations are renewed each year.
Since dicamba was first approved for tolerant soybeans in 2017, the state has received yearly complaints about drift and volatility damage. Dicamba can move off target through spray drift or vapor movement. Weather conditions, application rates, and crop stage all affect this risk.
Dicamba products have the following restrictions this year in Minnesota:
- Date cutoff: Applications south of Interstate 94 must stop after June 12. North of Interstate 94 use is prohibited after June 30.
- Temperature cutoff: No application is allowed if field temperatures exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit or if the National Weather Service forecasted high for the day is above 85 degrees.
Federal restrictions and requirements on the product label include:
Use of approved drift reducing and pH buffering volatility reducing tank mix agents for all applications.
Downwind buffers of 240 feet or 310 feet where endangered species are listed. Applicators should review the EPA Bulletins Live Two system at https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species/bulletins-live-two-view-bulletins.
Mandatory applicator training and additional recordkeeping.
These combined rules aim to allow limited use while protecting crops in the environment and surrounding areas.
Photo Credit: minnesota-department-of-agriculture
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Soybeans, Weather