Texas crop producers need to be aware of latest dicamba ruling

Texas producers on the verge of planting their cotton and soybean crops are turning to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service officials in light of a Feb. 6 federal court in Arizona vacating the 2020 registrations of three dicamba herbicides — XtendiMax by Bayer, Engenia by BASF and Tavium by Syngenta, which were previously labeled for use on dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, must first respond before producers know how to plan for weed management in the rapidly approaching 2024 season.

“We are waiting for a response from EPA on how producers are to proceed regarding the use of Dicamba in the 2024 growing season,” said Scott Nolte, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension statewide weed specialist in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station.

In the meantime

“Regardless of whether these current restrictions stand or if EPA modifies this vacatur, growers are encouraged to plan on the use of preplant and preemergent soil-active herbicides to reduce the reliance on post-emergent herbicides,” Nolte said.

He said AgriLife Extension will continue to offer the Auxin training around the state because it also covers the Enlist herbicides, which are not a part of the court ruling.

“If growers plan to use an Enlist system, Auxin training is still required prior to application of Enlist One or Enlist Duo in Texas,” Nolte said.

AgriLife Extension will provide more educational information as it becomes available.