Arkansas Department of Agriculture reminds industry of state Dicamba cut-off dates

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture reminds farmers and applicators of the Arkansas State Plant Board’s regulation prohibiting the use of dicamba for in-crop agricultural purposes after June 30. This regulation supersedes any extended deadlines outlined in a previous stock order issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this year.
Farmers and applicators who fail to comply with the Arkansas rule on in-crop agricultural use of dicamba may be subject to civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation and possible suspension or revocation of their applicator license.
The Arkansas State Plant Board rule includes additional restrictions on burndown and tank mixes and is consistent with the Federal Fungicide, Insecticide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) that allows states to impose more restrictive use requirements than the federal order.

On February 6, 2024, the U.S. District Court of Arizona issued a ruling that vacated 2020 registrations for the following dicamba products: XtendiMax, Engenia, and Tavium. On February 14, 2024, the EPA issued an existing stocks order that allows limited sale, distribution, and use of existing stocks already in the possession of growers or in the channels of trade and outside the control of pesticide companies as of February 6, 2024. The cut-off dates outlined in the order are consistent with the application cut-off dates on the previously approved federal label of the dicamba products at the time the registrations were vacated.
Suspected pesticide misuse complaints may be filed here or by calling the Arkansas Department of Agriculture at (501) 225-1598.