EPA Approves Dicamba Use for 2026 and 2027 Seasons

By Scout Nelson

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a limited two-year registration for over-the-top dicamba use in tolerant soybean and cotton for the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons. This information is shared by SDSU Extension to help South Dakota producers understand the decision and related restrictions.

This approval applies to the federal level. Dicamba products for over-the-top use are not currently registered in South Dakota. Growers must wait for approval from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources before any legal use. All label directions and state rules must be followed.

The EPA review requires stronger protections to reduce target, movement, and drift. The maximum yearly rate is 1.0 pound per acre, applied in two 0.5-pound applications. Each application must include a volatility reduction agent at 40 ounces per acre. Runoff and erosion mitigation practices must also meet required point levels based on location.

Temperature limits are strict. If forecasted temperatures range from 85°F to 95°F, only half of untreated dicamba tolerant soybean acres in a county may be sprayed at one time. No application is allowed if temperatures are forecasted at or above 95°F. Applications must stop after June 30 in South Dakota.

Only licensed applicators may purchase and apply dicamba. Annual training is required. Applicators must wear the required protective equipment and follow a 24-hour restricted entry interval. Spray buffers of 240 feet downwind are required unless reduced by approved measures.

Applications cannot occur during inversions, near rainfall events, in saturated soils, or outside approved daylight hours. Wind speeds must be between 3 and 10 miles per hour. Droplet size must meet coarse or coarser standards, and spray height must remain under two feet above the canopy.

This approval is temporary. This federal approval for use covers only the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons. South Dakota growers should move carefully and wait for full state guidance before planning dicamba use.

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