New Cut-off Date for Over-the-top Dicamba use in Iowa for 2023

Feb 23, 2023

By Prashant Jha

On February 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the label amendments that further restrict the use of over-the-top (OTT) dicamba in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. For the 2023 season, the revised federal labels for XtendiMax, Engenia and Tavium contains a new cut-off date restriction for OTT dicamba use:

No spraying on dicamba-tolerant (DT) soybeans in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana after June 12 or V4 growth stage, whichever comes first.

This restriction was proposed by the product registrants and approved by EPA in an effort to reduce off-target movement of dicamba most likely due to applications to be made at decreased temperatures and reduced soybean growth stage earlier in the season. June 12 cut-off date used in Minnesota for the 2022 growing season served as a model demonstrating significantly reduced off-target improvement.

In addition to the above amendment, applicators must follow all other restrictions for the use of those dicamba products in dicamba-tolerant soybean, as mandated by the product label. One of these restrictions include additional measures to protect the endangered species in specific counties of Iowa. Adherence to the new EPA application guidelines in soybeans, responsible dicamba usage in corn and strict equipment sanitation procedures should lead to drastically fewer cupped soybeans fields in the 2023 growing season.

With an earlier cut-off date in 2023, growers need to be more proactive in managing late-emerging weeds, predominantly waterhemp, in their soybean fields. A significant proportion of waterhemp can still emerge after June 12 or V4 stage of soybean. A layered soil residual herbicide program would be very crucial this season to control late-emerging waterhemp in soybean and reduce/prevent seed bank additions. This will be more important considering the widespread occurrence of herbicide-resistant waterhemp populations in Iowa soybean fields.

Here are links to each herbicide product with its label and application requirements for 2023.

Source : iastate.edu

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.