NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is shifting its approach to over-the-top (OTT) dicamba applications on dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans. Instead of calendar-based cutoffs, the agency has proposed a new system tied to temperature forecasts, requiring applicators to use data from the National Weather Service or NOAA.
The new labels move away from past state-imposed cutoff dates and instead rely on daily and next-day temperatures, according to Nicholas Brown with the North Carolina State Extension Service.
- Applications are permitted when both forecasts remain below 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with 20 fluid ounces of volatility reducing agent (VRA) required.
- Between 75-85 degrees, the VRA requirement doubles.
- At 85–95 degrees, applicators must either reduce treated acreage by 40 percent or eliminate tank mix partners, still including a VRA.
- Any forecast of 95 degrees or higher prohibits use altogether.
The EPA says the changes simplify compliance compared to the past 40-page labels, though state regulators caution that shifting from date cutoffs may complicate planning. If finalized, the new labels could apply for the 2026 growing season.
Tony’s Farm-Level Takeaway: Farmers will need to closely monitor forecasts, as temperature cutoffs replace fixed spray dates. Planning flexibility may be reduced during hot spells, making compliance more weather-dependent.
Purdue University Professor of Agricultural Economics Dr. Jim Mintert shares a closer look at farmer sentiment and the key issues shaping the agricultural economy in January.
February 04, 2026 10:53 AM
·
China-led demand continues to anchor soybean and sorghum exports despite weekly swings.
February 04, 2026 06:00 AM
·
Clearer 45Z rules favor U.S. oilseeds, but final RFS volumes remain critical to locking in demand.
February 03, 2026 12:39 PM
·
Clear right-to-repair guidance reduces downtime, repair costs, and operational risk.
February 03, 2026 10:33 AM
·
Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.
February 02, 2026 12:13 PM
·
The biggest development of 2025 in agricultural law and taxation was the signing into law on July 4 of the Trump Administration’s landmark legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA)
February 02, 2026 11:40 AM
·
