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.
China is making strategic moves by purchasing more soybeans from Argentina and may soon follow the EU and reopen its market to Brazilian chicken exports.
September 23, 2025 01:21 PM
·
Farmers should watch for soybean export rebounds with harvest, while corn and wheat shipments remain strong and sorghum demand struggles.
September 23, 2025 11:54 AM
·
Rollins says the new trade relationship with Taiwan, which is committed to buying a significant amount of U.S. soy, could not come at a better time for farmers facing financial strain.
September 23, 2025 11:06 AM
·
Higher tariffs may shield some U.S. crops but risk retaliation, lost markets, and higher costs for growers. The WTO disputes highlight the fragile balance between trade policy, farm exports, and input supply chains.
September 22, 2025 12:39 PM
·
Lawmakers and ag industry groups welcomed the confirmations, citing the direct impact of these leaders on western ranchers, water and land management, conservation programs, and regulatory reform.
September 19, 2025 01:21 PM
·
More than 100 pork producers traveled to Washington to meet with lawmakers and underscore the threat to small family farms.
September 19, 2025 12:04 PM
·
Corn and beef exports showed strong momentum, cotton sales surged, and soybean sales held steady, though China remains absent from the U.S. market.
September 18, 2025 04:43 PM
·
Cheaper freight is helping exports move, especially corn, but weaker soybean demand looms large.
September 18, 2025 04:37 PM
·
For rural communities, this shift could mean new housing options for farmworkers and young families priced out of metro markets.
September 18, 2025 11:37 AM
·
