The EPA has renewed approval for over‑the‑top (OTT) dicamba applications on dicamba‑tolerant soybeans and cotton for the next two years, covering 34 states. The decision has drawn mixed reactions: critics cite past drift issues and crop damage, while many farmers welcome continued access to a key weed‑control tool.
Key EPA Restrictions for 2026
- Annual dicamba application limits cut in half, capped at 1 pound per acre for all products.
- Volatility‑reduction agent rates doubled to reduce off‑target movement.
- Mandatory conservation practices now require 3 mitigation points in most areas, plus an additional 3 points in Pesticide Use Limitation Areas.
- Temperature‑based cutoffs will be added to product labels to limit spraying during higher‑risk conditions.
Product Registrations
- Bayer received registration for Stryax, its new OTT dicamba herbicide (formerly XtendiMax), and will seek state approvals for XtendFlex Soybeans, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybeans, and cotton with XtendFlex Technology.
- BASF secured a new registration for Engenia for OTT use on dicamba‑tolerant soybeans and cotton.
Insurance Implications The renewed approval raises questions for farm‑and‑ranch and commercial agriculture insurers heading into 2026. Companies will need to evaluate whether the updated restrictions meaningfully reduce drift‑related claims or whether dicamba‑related risk remains too high. The 2026 spray season will provide the first real test.
States Approved for Dicamba OTT Use in 2026 Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
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