Even after federal courts have twice banned the use of dicamba, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to bring it back this herbicide for over-the-top broadleaf weed control in soybeans and cotton. This is good news for no-tillers as a number of no-till soybean growers have shared their thoughts on the unfortunate banning of this herbicide several years ago with No-Till Farmer staffers.

The federal government agency’s latest dicamba reviews did not identify any concerns for potential human health exposure. This ruling will allow sale and use of dicamba products from Bayer, BASF and Syngenta to control herbicide-resistant broadleaf weeds. 

58 Years of Dicamba Formulations

First introduced in 1967, further dicamba development arose several decades later from a need to find new solutions to controlling Roundup-resistant weeds. Monsanto began selling genetically engineered soybean and cotton seed that could survive being sprayed with dicamba and Roundup in 2016. 

Today’s major concern with dicamba is the fact that the herbicide can drift several miles, leading to plant damage to growing soybeans, cotton and specialty crops that don’t have built-in resistance to the herbicide.

As reported by the Washington Post, a number of environmental groups sued the EPA over dicamba usage in 2020 due to its potential drift concerns. At that time, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit determined that dicamba “caused substantial and undisputed damage.”

After the federal court vacated the dicamba registration, EPA re-registered dicamba, which was again challenged by environmental groups. A second federal court ruling vacated the dicamba registration in 2024 that prohibited sale of the herbicide.

In its latest proposal, EPA expects to address risks from dicamba’s volatility by requiring spraying temperature cut offs above 95 degrees and requiring increased use of drift reduction agents when temperatures are above 75 degrees. It also plans to address the risk of herbicide runoff.

In recent days, numerous farm groups have applauded the EPA response. The American Soybean Association maintains use of dicamba as an over-the-top use.is a critical weed control tool for soybean growers. Bayer officials indicate they are confident low-volatility dicamba herbicides, when used according to the label, can be used safely and successfully on-target. BASF says they are committed to ensuring that dicamba remains a valuable weed control option for no-tillers.

Use It Very Carefully

For no-tillers using dicamba, be aware of environmental concerns regarding drift, follow the new temperature guidelines and pay close attention to all label requirements. EPA is giving farmers another chance to use this valuable weed control option, but future use will be up to you and other growers following the rules.