Dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxy benzoic acid) is a wide-spectrum herbicide first introduced in 1967. It is used on rye, asparagus, barley, corn, oats, soybeans, sugarcane, and wheat. Primary commercial applications of products in the dicamba market are weed control for grain crops and vegetables.
The dicamba market faces fresh uncertainty after an Environmental Protection Agency report revealed that the decision to re-approve the controversial herbicide in 2018 was improperly influenced. The development gave rise to the credibility of federal regulators and discouraged the participation of outside scientists. A further ban on the sales of dicamba-based herbicides has adversely impacted the growth of the dicamba market. Arkansas and Missouri banned the sale and use of dicamba in July 2017 in response to complaints of crop damage due to drift. In June 2020, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked sales of three dicamba-based herbicides in the United States. Later in October 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a decision on the registration application of three dicamba-based products, Xtendimax, Engenia, and Cavium. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, in June 2020, issued guidance following federal cancellation of dicamba herbicides.
Recently, in May 2021, The Minnesota Department of Agriculture urged pesticide applicators to take special care while applying dicamba products this growing season. When applying this herbicide, make sure you are aware of the weather conditions at the time. For example, windy days will affect how the herbicide will react in your soil. Always apply the herbicide early in the morning, or just before it gets dark. You should not spray more than 2 acres; doing so can result in severe weed growth. If using a combination of herbicides, make sure that you follow all of the instructions on the container. Consult your local agriculture extension office for additional information about using dicamba and related pesticides.
Registration numbers for herbicides are available from herbicide manufacturers in the dicamba market, as well as from several online herbicide providers. It's important to register the herbicide to ensure that it remains effective. If the registration number on the herbicide container is missing or has been tampered with, likely, the product is not effective. To ensure dicamba is properly registered, purchase the product from a reputable retailer and then follow the instructions on the label.