Expert: It’s time for cotton growers to explore over-the-top Dicamba alternatives

Cotton growers will be without over-the-top Dicamba this year, and Oklahoma Extension specialist Jenny Dudak says that will require some adjustments.

“You know, the loss of Dicamba would be devastating, I think,” said Jenny Dudak. We do have cotton producers in the state of Oklahoma that plant Dicamba cotton, so they need to think about alternatives or what they’re going to do moving forward if they stick with that Dicamba cotton. A couple of things that I would like to spread the word on to keep in mind are making sure we’re putting down residuals pre-planting. We want to make sure we’re starting clean in that growing season, so we can stay clean throughout the growing season or stay as clean as possible. And then we do have some over-the-top post options like Liberty and Roundup, some of those types of chemicals that you can spray, and if they still work on your farm.”

A Federal Court ruling last year removed Dicamba from rotation but allowed growers to use existing stocks. Back in November, a small group of senators asked the EPA to deny any future registrations of Dicamba, arguing that tighter restrictions had already been tried and were not enough to mitigate the damage.

Related Stories
American Farmland Trust shares guidance, research, and policy solutions to help farmers navigate the growing threat of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” contaminating U.S. farmland.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, president of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins us on Rural Health Matters to discuss winter safety reminders and preparedness.
Richard Gupton of the Agricultural Retailers Association discusses the EPA’s new decision on over-the-top Dicamba and what it means for growers this year.
Mike Spier, president and CEO of U.S. Wheat Associates, discusses the new U.S.-Bangladesh trade agreement and its potential benefits for U.S. wheat growers.
Gretchen Kuck of the National Corn Growers Association joined us to discuss the Ag Coalition for USMCA’s report findings and expectations ahead of the upcoming USMCA review.
The agreement formalizes coordination between the two departments to address security concerns affecting U.S. agriculture.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The USDA says the framework is about “ending abusive government overreach” and “protecting farmers, families, and private property.”
Farm numbers still favor small operations, but production, resilience, and risk management are increasingly concentrated among fewer, larger farms.
Wed, 2/18/26 – 7:30 PM ET
While access to China remains uncertain, U.S. beef exporters are finding resilience and opportunity in other global markets, which could help maintain industry value and expand export opportunities.
ASFMRA’s Dennis Reyman discusses farmer sentiment, land values, and how global and financial pressures are shaping decision-making in the ag land market.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.