Contributed by Mike Hunter, CCE North Country Regional Ag Team
Are you are planting dicamba tolerant (Xtend or XtendFlex Technology) soybeans in 2021? If so, one of the tools in the weed control toolbox will be the option to use one of the three registered dicamba herbicides for use on Xtend or XtendFlex soybeans. In October 2020, the EPA approved a five year registration of XtendiMax and Engenia herbicides. It also extended the registration of Tavium herbicide. Xtendimax, Engenia and Tavium are currently the only dicamba products registered for over the top use in dicamba tolerant soybeans in New York State.
If you will be applying XtendiMax, Engenia or Tavium herbicide in 2021, there are several updated use changes on the label.
A few of the highlighted changes include:
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- Approved pH buffering agents (Volatility Reduction Agent or VRA) must be used with every application.
- Cutoff application date of June 30 or R1 growth stage, whichever comes first for XtendiMax and Engenia. June 30 or V4 growth stage, whichever comes first for Tavium.
- Increased downwind buffer increased from 110 feet to 240 feet. In counties with endangered species (outlined in the US EPA Endangered Species Protection Bulletin) have additional buffer requirements. Three counties in NYS (Genesee, Onondaga, Madison) are included in this bulletin.
- The 44 oz. per acre use rate of XtendiMax was removed from the label.
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The annual dicamba training requirements are still mandatory for any applicator that applies one of these products. The annual training requirements can be fulfilled by completing an approved online training module.
You can find approved dicamba training modules at all these links:
Planting dicamba tolerant soybeans will provide additional options for the control of multiple resistant marestail, a difficult to control weed that is slowly spreading across New York state. Switching to dicamba tolerant soybeans is unlikely a long term solution, as selection for resistant weeds will begin with the increased use of these new herbicides. Growers will need to carefully consider how to best use these traits by providing good stewardship to preserve this technology for the future.
