Five states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota) have decided to put extra rules in place for using the dicamba products Engenia (BASF), Stryax (Bayer, formerly sold as XtendiMax) and Tavium (Syngenta). These state‑level rules were published alongside the new federal labels on February 6, when EPA re‑registered the over-the-top (OTT) dicamba products for 2026. Technically, the labels will not expire until February 2028, but that will not allow for use in the 2028 growing season if they are not renewed.
The restrictions in these states look very similar to the rules applicators had before the 2020 dicamba registrations were overturned by a federal court in early 2024. Even though the new federal label no longer includes cutoff dates, these states, including Illinois, decided they still need tighter rules to help reduce drift and protect nearby sensitive crops.
The main rules for OTT use of dicamba in Illinois soybeans are outlined below:
- Application cutoff of June 20. Be aware that this temperature limit of 85-degree Fahrenheit temperature restriction could occur before the R1 soybean growth stage.
- Do not apply these products if the air temperature at the field at the time of application is over 85 degrees Fahrenheit or if the National Weather Service’s forecasted high temperature for the nearest available location for the day of application exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Required consultation of the FieldWatch sensitive crop registry
- Wind‑direction restrictions to protect residential areas and nature preserves
More details can be found on the dicamba page on the Illinois Department of Agriculture website.
Some of the key details of the new OTT dicamba federal label requirements for soybeans are as follows:
- Annual dicamba‑specific online (or registrant‑provided) training is required before applying OTT dicamba. These products remain restricted use pesticides, and only certified, trained applicators may use them. Go to Illinois Fertilizer Chemical Association (IFCA) Training Resources for dicamba training.
- Applicators must check the most up‑to‑date state‑specific restrictions (e.g., cutoff dates, temperature limits, extra buffers) within 7 days of application, as label compliance varies by state.
- Maximum 0.5 lb. acid equivalent dicamba per acre per application, with no more than 1.0 lb. acid equivalent total dicamba per acre per year across all dicamba products (cut in half from previous registrations permitting up to 2.0 lbs./year).
- A drift reduction agent (DRA) is mandatory in every application.
- A volatility‑reduction agent (VRA) of 40 oz/acre is required for each application, doubling prior VRA requirements.
- Must record application start time and comply with all timing‑related label restrictions.
- Application must NOT occur more than one hour before sunrise and must end two hours before sunset, as these times increase the risk of drift via temperature inversions (this requirement is consistent with dicamba drift‑prevention standards, although not explicitly listed in the 2026 sources).
- Wind speed must be checked during application and again every time the sprayer tank is refilled in the field, ensuring conditions still meet label requirements (wind‑speed requirements and drift mitigation are explicitly part of retained federal restrictions).
- Must earn three runoff‑mitigation points per treated field from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) conservation‑practice menu.
Examples include buffer strips, contour farming, cover crops and similar soil‑conservation practices. Some special‑protection areas require six points (pesticide use limitation areas with sensitive species). - A minimum 240‑foot downwind buffer is required for every application
(can be reduced only by approved mitigation tools such as hooded sprayers or physical windbreaks). - Must complete all required recordkeeping. Federal 2026 label sources do not list the specific number “24 questions,” but they confirm recordkeeping is required as part of mandatory training and federal restrictions. Go to Illinois Fertilizer Chemical Association (IFCA) Training Resources for dicamba application recordkeeping forms. Applicators will be fined if recordkeeping is incomplete.
Additional information about restrictions for OTT dicamba use in soybeans can be found on the EPA’s Registration of Dicamba for Use on Dicamba-Tolerant Crops webpage.
These combined federal and state measures aim to maintain access to dicamba while significantly tightening safeguards to reduce off‑target movement and environmental risk. Failing to follow dicamba restrictions can lead to state fines, federal penalties, loss of applicator license, liability for drift damage and formal investigations. Illinois takes violations seriously, and the rules are designed to protect neighboring crops, people, property and sensitive areas. Failing to follow these rules could also jeopardize the continued availability of dicamba as an important tool for managing herbicide‑resistant weeds in soybean and other crops. Remember, the label is law.
Resources:
EPA’s 2026 dicamba labels come with new restrictions
EPA Sets New Dicamba Restrictions for Soybean and Cotton – Seed World
Labels, Forms, & Other Resources | Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association
2026_Stryax_Record_Keeping_Form.pdf
Tavium_Plus_VaporGrip_Technology_Application_Records_Form.pdf
About the Author: Stephanie Porter
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