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IDOA announces permanent dicamba rules

Applicators must follow state and federal guidelines when applying dicamba

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As we are all well aware, last year saw the addition of dicamba tolerant soybeans to weed management options in the U.S. The addition of this technology was not without the troubles of off target movement and subsequent plant injury. (Photo: Liz Stahl)
As we are all well aware, last year saw the addition of dicamba tolerant soybeans to weed management options in the U.S. The addition of this technology was not without the troubles of off target movement and subsequent plant injury. (Photo: Liz Stahl)
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced April 12 permanent state-specific restrictions for dicamba use on soybeans. The permanent restrictions remained unchanged from the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. (Photo: Liz Stahl)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced April 12 permanent state-specific restrictions for dicamba use on soybeans. The permanent restrictions remained unchanged from the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. IDOA’s proposed administrative rules were published in the Secretary of State’s Illinois Register last December, allowing for public comments during the First Notice period.

In October 2020, USEPA announced that it had renewed the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) registrations for three dicamba pesticides for growing seasons 2021-2025. Contrary to prior practice, USEPA declared that the only way for states to add safety restrictions to these products is through Section 24(a) of FIFRA, which allows a state to add restrictions through its rulemaking process.

In addition to the requirements of the federally-approved labels, IDOA’s permanent rules include the following requirements for the use of pesticides containing dicamba on soybeans:

• A pesticide containing dicamba 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.

• Application on soybeans of a pesticide containing dicamba shall not be made after June 20 of each year.

• Before applying a pesticide containing dicamba on soybeans, the applicator shall consult the FieldWatch sensitive crop registry (https://www.fieldwatch.com) and comply with all associated recordkeeping and label requirements.

• Application on soybeans of a pesticide containing dicamba 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.

In addition to these provisions, applicators must follow the federal guidelines when it comes to applying dicamba, including taking annual Dicamba-specific training and be a certified applicator.

The intent of these additional restrictions is to reduce the potential for off-target movement of this product, thereby reducing the potential for possible adverse impacts to dicamba-sensitive crops/areas. Dicamba is primarily used on soybeans to control post-emergence broadleaf weeds.

— Illinois Department of Agriculture

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