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Off-target herbicide movement

by Ryan Miller, Extension educator

Tractor spraying in field
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. 

This led to changes in the federal label for all brands of dicamba that can be applied to dicamba tolerant soybeans.

Federal label changes include:
  • Making the products restricted use
  • Requiring dicamba specific applicator training prior to application
  • Additional record keeping for dicamba applications
  • Reducing maximum application wind speed to 10 MPH
  • Limiting the times of day the products can be applied
  • Enhanced language on susceptible crops and tank clean out procedures.

In addition to federal label changes, Minnesota adopted a 24C label that includes further application restrictions including a June 20th application cutoff date and a no application restriction if the air temperature is over 85°F or the air temperature is forecasted to reach over 85°F the day of application.

Further complicating things is the fact another growth regulator herbicide technology (2,4-D resistant soybean) is seeing some limited use in Minnesota in 2018.

Following is a short video highlighting the role of application restrictions in preventing off target movement and crop injury:

Dicamba and 2,4-D off-target movement

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