What The New Dicamba Labels Mean For Cotton

Dicamba is available again for over-the-top use in XtendFlex cotton, but the path back comes with a label that demands planning, discipline, and proof that we can keep applications on target. We sit down with weed scientists Dr. Pete Dotray (Texas Tech) and Dr. Stanley Culpepper (University of Georgia) to translate what changed for 2026 and 2027 and what those changes mean when you are trying to cover acres on real timelines.

We walk through the biggest shifts growers and applicators will feel immediately: a two-season registration window, required training, heavier documentation, updated droplet language, and tighter stewardship expectations around drift and volatility. Then we slow down and unpack the new temperature-based approach using National Weather Service forecasts, including how the 84°F, 85–94°F, and 95°F thresholds can  limit acres under certain conditions, and potentially push dicamba applications earlier in the season. We also cover the practical pieces that decide whether a spray stays clean: VRAs and DRAs at the correct rates, boom height, wind speed, inversions, time-of-day rules, rainfall and runoff language, and how downwind buffers can be managed with mitigation credits and defined managed areas.

The conversation also turns to paraquat, why the product matters across agriculture, and why uncertainty in supply or training infrastructure would ripple through conservation tillage and harvest aid programs. The bigger takeaway is simple: resistance is not the only threat to the herbicide toolbox anymore. Lawsuits, regulation pressure, and public narratives are shaping what stays available, and stewardship is now part of keeping tools on the farm.

Transcript

Cold Open And Theme Song

SPEAKER_03 0:01

Well if it was so easy, they say the cow, you can't you promise me the moon and then I wish I wasn't born again Cotton picking Cotton picking cotton brewing Oh that I can live without you Living with you what I gonna do one rain away from glory but it's still the only I thought it would choose Well I finally made some money it's the cotton pick and cotton growing loose Welcome to this episode of the Cotton Specialist Corner Podcast.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

My name is Camp Han, Extension Cotton Specialist based out of Tifton, Georgia, at the University of Georgia. And with me today, I have two very special guests, and we're going to discuss some of the things that are fairly pertinent to cotton growers as we get into this coming up season. And in particular, uh we're going to discuss a couple of products in question. Uh, the major one where a lot of changes have happened in the last year uh are the over-the-top Dicamba products uh for extend flex cotton. And then uh we're also going to touch on some changes uh that have been kind of going on, showed up in the news in the last few months with uh Gromox on and who's gonna be making that and looking trying to look at the future of that product. But with me today, I mentioned I have two very special guests. The first is uh Dr. Peter Dotre, who is a Rockwell Endowed Professor of Weed Science at Texas Tech University based out of Lubbock, and then Dr. Stanley Culpepper, who's a professor of weed science at the University of Georgia, uh here in Tifton as well. So, how are you guys doing today?

SPEAKER_00 2:15

Doing great. Yep, fantastic. Thank you, sir.

Why Dicamba Labels Became Turbulent

SPEAKER_01 2:18

Good, good. So uh we'll get right into it. I think everybody that's listening to this podcast understands uh some of the turmoil around a couple of these products, especially over the last uh it's been about 10 years, I believe. So, you know, looking back, uh there's been a lot of ups and downs, particularly with uh Dicamba, but it was approved for over-the-top use in cotton in 2026. But there are uh quite a few changes. And I wondered if you guys might would kind of explain a little bit about how we got to the point that we're in here and uh how we actually were able to get a label in 2026 when a year ago it didn't seem like that might happen. So uh I'll hand it off to you guys and I'll kind of jump in with questions.

How The 2026 Label Returned

SPEAKER_02 3:08

So thanks for having us, Camp. Uh again, it's wonderful to be here. So um, you know, February the 6th, 2026 was a great day, but it was a great day because we did get the in-crop dicamba label registrations back. Again, we need to be very specific. It's exclusive for ingenious strikes and tavium, right? So let's not get confused with that. But you know, that that really was a great day. There was a lot of work that went into that. Uh, all of your agriculture stakeholders, whoever you are listening, wherever you're at, all of your agriculture stakeholders played a critical role in that. Of course, the National Cotton Council, Cotton Incorporated, and all our local commissions played tremendous influence on that. I I think the key, the key that got us the tool and the technology back was uh cooperation, but also the science behind developing a more robust, yes, very complex uh label that maybe can withstand the activist lawsuits that are driving many of the decisions and many of the tools and restrictions that are on our label. So again, uh February 6th was a great day to get that tool back, a whole lot of cooperation, a whole lot of effort. And I think that's the key with agriculture now. We all have to work together. We need our farmers, we need their voice, we need their influence, we need uh the team effort in getting these tools back.

SPEAKER_01 4:32

Yeah. For sure. And you did mention the three trade names of the products and genia and Tavium, we're all familiar with. Um, but you said Striacs, which um I believe, hopefully at this point, everybody should have gone through their training, whether that was industry or uh academic led or however uh they went through that. But Striax is the new name for what used to be Extendamax. Is that correct?

SPEAKER_02 5:01

Yeah, that that's correct. That is uh that is Bayer's product. And when you get looking on the label with the pounds, active ingredients, et cetera, it will look uh essentially identical. Good deal.

Biggest Label Changes For Growers

SPEAKER_01 5:12

We'll kind of get right into it. I as I mentioned, there is a national uh training requirement. I hope that everybody who intends to apply this stuff went to that because that is the law, right? So um certainly want everybody to uh do everything they can to follow the law, but you know, just kind of want to get into what's the same and what's different uh with these labels that are approved for uh 2026. And uh, Dr. Dotre, we'll start with you and we'll kind of go back and forth.

Temperature Rules Change Spray Planning

SPEAKER_00 5:46

You know, I would agree, you know, February the 6th, it was a good day. It it gave us a chance on the university side to start going through and better understanding what these new labels uh look like and and and how they might be similar in ways that that they're different. And and certainly there are, I think, a lot of differences that that our growers and applicators uh need to be aware of. I guess the first thing I'd like to point out is essentially we've we've got a registration for three products for the next two growing seasons. So I think it's critically important that our growers and applicators know that uh some of that label uh extension is going to be based on the success of the applications that we're making. So we do need to understand these labels and and use these products accordingly with the hopes that after two years there'll be opportunities for for some additional years of using these products. Some of the past restrictions on on specific nozzles really has been removed to language that suggests you know coarse and coarser type nozzles. Uh I think a lot of the tank mix partner language has changed and it's giving growers an opportunity to do, I think, a lot more things than than what they were able to do in the past. Uh you know, things like you know, wind speed and ground speed and and boom height. Uh I think those are are similar to things that we've seen in the past. And I guess for me, really what what I'm what I'm leaning towards in discussions that I'm having with with my growers, I think the key restriction for us in 2026 and 2027, which I think is really going to be uh kind of a game changer, is the temperature restriction by which we can or cannot apply these products. So what was in the past a restriction based on a calendar date uh currently is now based on forecasted temperature. Uh temperature the day of the application, temperature the day after the application. And I feel like for for us in Texas and specifically in West Texas, which is the area that I service, I think that average high temperatures in June, July, and August are significantly going to change the opportunities for us to use these products. Um I think these are very necessary products, but I think how we use them is going to be very different. And just going to lay out two quick scenarios. First of all, I feel like we've we've attempted to evaluate in the past kind of a sequential approach when we use DieCamba. Uh if we're using Dicamba and if we're using Liberty, you know, the question often is, you know, w which which one should we use first, which one should we use second? And unfortunately, anybody who who you know is doing research and just growers that have experience with applications over years, there there is no easy answer to that question. Uh but I think the new labels are essentially going to suggest probably the Dicamba is going to go out first because of the temperature restriction that's going to happen. Secondly, I just want to mention is as I've been discussing a lot of this with growers, again, just trying to interpret the label, a lot of the growers have told me that what they're looking at in 2026 is really going to be a limited focus as far as far as DICamba used on their overall acres. So almost immediately they're making decisions that DICamba is going to be available for use on some acres, and they're going to focus heavily on other acres with different weed management systems that that might even be more heavily relying on soil active chemistry. So you know, temperature restriction, key thing for us to understand. I think the experiment's going to start for us here very soon, understanding how we can best use it. And likely what we're going to see in 2026, I believe, is going to be probably a little bit less of a focus on using these three approved products to manage weeds in our cotton fields.

Nozzles Droplets And Drift Tradeoffs

SPEAKER_01 10:30

Right. Right. And, you know, it's it's good that those kind of conversations have already started with some of those growers. It is funny, I even I have a graduate student that graduate is graduating in May and he's going home to farm. And I told him one day, I said, Hey, you need to go get trained on spraying this stuff just in case. I said, I don't know if y'all spray it or not, but you need to go get trained if if you get in a situation where you need to have it. And so he went to the training, and it was one of the UPW trainings here in Georgia. And I called him after it was over, and I said, Well, hey, what like what'd you think about the about the training, about using the product, whatever it was? And and he texted me back, he said, I think we've pretty much decided that uh if we don't have to use it, we're not going to. And that's the that's the situation that you are talking about, Dr. Dotre, in those situations where you have to rely on something that gives you maybe a little bit more flexibility, some of that post-over-the-top weed control uh for certain it comes into use. But some of these restrictions, particularly the temperature one uh that you discussed briefly, uh, could be a game changer in most parts of the cotton belt, I would say. All right. So you mentioned a few things, and I've thought about some of these in the past, but the the nozzle requirement did change, right? And you briefly mentioned uh it used to be what is termed as ultra coarse droplets, correct? And now it is coarse or coarser droplets. And so I I imagine there's a couple of reasons for that. Did one of y'all want to tackle maybe why that restriction changed or any opportunities it may present growers in the future and what to keep in mind if they were to consider a coarse droplet size as opposed to an ultra coarse?

SPEAKER_02 12:27

So I'll give it a shot, Camp. So and Pete may be on a different path. Obviously, I I do the UPW trainings in Georgia. Uh, I have been quite vocal about um this is one change I am not a fan of, right? If you know anything about DICAMB, you know a big part of the challenges we've had. Keeping this tool in the toolbox is off-target movement, and particle drift is a huge part of that. So obviously, if you have a coarse droplet versus an ultra-coarse droplet, it's much more likely to move off-target. Now, the decision is certainly uh friendly to a grower because now I can do various tank mixes. You know, in the past we couldn't mix with with glufosinate or liberty type products. Now we can do that because the the coarse droplet allows us to put that tank mixture together. But again, uh when you look at the potential for off-target movement, at least in the state of Georgia, I've strongly encouraged my guys to stick with the ultra-course droplet. Let's stick with the program that got us there because we can manage off-target movement. We have done it very successfully for a decade. Uh, we need to continue to do that. But that is a huge potential benefit with a lot of flexibility on your spray tips, a lot of flexibility on your tank mix partners, etc. But like Doug Tray said a minute ago, he said these registrations are only for two years. But also, if you look closely, the labels actually require you to check um the website within no more than seven days before an application. So if you have to check the website within seven days of an application and you have a two-year registration, and those of you that aren't familiar, a two-year registration is very, very short, very short. Um, that is a message to all of us that rely and utilize this very effective tool that if we don't do the things right, the tool's not going to be in the toolbox any longer. And this is probably it, right? So I would encourage you to, all of you, especially those of you in my state where I have to go look at potential problems, I would encourage you to focus heavily on keeping that product on target. Stick with that ultra-coarse droplet lest you lose the tank mixtures that we've used very effectively. That is our priority. We must steward these tools. If we do not steward these tools, these will go away and then we will continue to lose the rest of what we have in the toolbox.

DRA And VRA Requirements Explained

SPEAKER_01 14:40

Yeah. And, you know, kind of going back to the potential use of uh these over-the-top DICamba products and Liberty in the same tank, you know, looking back at a lot of the data that's been generated over the last 10 years, the big reason that these two things weren't allowed to be in tank mixture together was the increase in volatility potential, right? And so another thing that has changed going into 2026 that is something that has got to be in the tank are are these VRA and DRA agents, and and uh that potentially has been one of the reasons why you could add these things in tank mix. Of course, we're not making any recommendations, right? Because we do not want to increase that potential uh by any means, because we want these things applied uh in a way where they're gonna stay where they go. But uh does somebody want to tackle the uh different rates of VRAs and DRAs and and uh things like that, and maybe why uh that was added for the label in 2026 and 2027?

SPEAKER_00 15:48

So I guess I'll make some comments maybe as as to what the current labels look like, and then I'll let Dr. Culpepper talk about maybe some of the reasons why. So so you know, historically uh the DRAs were required for extend the extendimax specific formulation of of these dicambas uh wasn't required in in the other two previous ones. You know, not now they're the the DRAs are are required in all. And and the and the VRAs, which were always uh required, the amount that we're using in 2026 and 2027 is is more than what we've seen in the past. More of the of the of the pH buffer or the volatility reduction adjuvants uh with the hopes of uh as Dr. Culpepper said, just keeping those products in place. So you know, when we look at the the forecasted temperature, and we're making sure that that for us, which again that that that key restriction is gonna be you know 95 degrees or above, you know, we're always using the 40 ounces of of the VRA and the overall amount of area that we can apply is going to be very much temperature forecasted based. You know, if if we're at up to you know 84 degrees, as long as we've got 40 ounces in the tank of of the VRA, we've got the required amount of DRA in the tank, we're good to go. If if the temperature is 85 to 94 degrees, you know, we've got now some restrictions and overall amount of acres that can be sprayed within a county area that that the grower has uh to spray to where now they can spray up to 50 percent of those acres. And they've got to wait until the third day before they can finish those sprays. But again, that's assuming on the third day the temperature isn't forecasted at you know 95 or above that day and the next day. So just a lot of things a part of the label I feel like I'm reading, and and there's a little bit of room for almost interpretation and discussions are needed to make sure that we're fully understanding what what the registrants are uh are uh suggesting as far as uh how these applications should be made and appropriate delays in applications that need to be made if we're within that window of 85 to 94 degrees. So that was m maybe a little bit of a of a digression from the initial topic. Uh importance of DRAs, importance of VRAs uh still there, critically important with these three approved products. You know, the additional temperature restriction is is is changing some things slightly as far as overall areas that can be sprayed within a given day.

SPEAKER_01 19:19

Yeah. Yeah, and I I'd say that that's the that's the biggest change, right? That's going to take some getting used to. And uh, we've already mentioned you you've got to check the forecast seven days in advance of a of an application, which I'll just be honest, I think is crazy, right? Because the weather changes so much around here. Like I right now, I'm watching the weather every day waiting on rain. And I know that y'all tend to do that a lot, Dr. Dotre in West Texas. Y'all may not watch it because it's just not coming, but around here we typically get some and we just hadn't gotten a rain in a while, but the rain chances change two times in a day. You know, so I mean, I you know, I wouldn't mix a tank before I got in a field and was certain that I could do something, you know, because you you mix a tank, it's like you're married to it, right? And so you you need to be 100% certain that you are good to go on that application in my mind before you even put the product in the tank. And that's that's camp hand's opinion. People can do what they think is appropriate, right? But so we talked about some of the additives, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:32

So, Camp, just a just a couple things with the DRA, just to make sure all your listeners know you have to be at 0.3% volume to volume, and you have to make sure that DRA is an oil emulsion. So, what you've used in the past may or may not work for this year. So, check with your retailer and make sure that's an oil emulsion. That's kind of new to us. Um, the VRA, like Dr. Dotre said, we basically have to double the amount of VRA we're using, which is twice as expensive. So that's a challenge to you. But the reason there is science behind the doubling of the VRA, um, even data that we have generated, we do reduce the amount of volatility that is occurring. And just in case those of you aren't familiar with volatility, you go out, you make a perfect application, and over the next 48, maybe even 72 hours, that product lifts on its own and potentially moves off target, right? So that VRA that we've doubled the rate reduces the potential of that, and then the other one that's really important if you are gonna mix with a product like glufosinate or uh an IPA glyphosate, which increase the potential for volatility to occur, that is where the VRA at the higher rate will compensate for that. So if one was to say mix uh one of these products with a glufosinate and forget to put the VRA in, it could be absolutely catastrophic. So not only do you have to put the VRA in if you're gonna do that tank mixture, you've got to use the new. Rate, which is twice as much product or twice as expensive as in the past. That is very important for everybody to understand.

Boom Height Wind Time Of Day

SPEAKER_01 22:09

Yeah. So we we've talked a little bit about the temperature restrictions, and I I want to get back to that and reiterate it one more time just because there can there's such confusion uh around that in particular. But things like wind speed and boom height stay the same. Application time, right? You can't, I think it's two hours or an hour and a half after sunrise and two hours before sunset, if I'm not mistaken.

SPEAKER_02 22:36

One hour after sunrise through two hours before sunset is when you can make that application. And again, a lot of these restrictions have good science behind them, right? We have plenty of data that shows if you spray glyphosate or Roundup Plus dicamba on a palmer amaranth at sunrise, you'll get 20, 30, 40% less control than you will an hour or two hours later, right? So look at the restriction as far as yes, is to help us keep the product on target. But but there are also some restrictions on there to help improve your overall weed management program, right? So there it's overwhelming, it's complex, and there are a lot of restrictions, but but spread throughout the restrictions, there is some really, really good science to help improve the weed management program as well as to keep the product on target.

SPEAKER_01 23:24

Right. And so boom height, right, stays the same, 24 inches, 24 inches above um the crop canopy or target.

SPEAKER_02 23:32

This is one of the areas we'll give a shout out to the EPA because it has been 24 inches above the crop canopy, but I could envision a 12-inch pigweed and a five-inch cotton crop. So in essence, now we can go 24 inches above the target to allow you to get that coverage. And I think again, the science is sprinkled throughout. You might say, well, I can't go at 24 inches. My my fields, my terrain is is prohibitive, right? Well, the important thing is you need to understand to get the boom down, right? So we've done data, lots of data, and there's been lots of weed science data across the country. Um, basically, if we take and in all of our work, doesn't matter if it's an ultra-course droplet, coarse droplet, medium droplet, if we take a four-foot boom height down to a two-foot boom height, when you roughly average it all together, we reduce drift 50%. So if your goal is to improve on target applications, that's one of the things that you and I can do every single day. It's at our decision, it's at our fingertips, right? So again, the boom height restriction, you may not like it, but the science behind helping keep the product, this product and every other product on target is let's get that boom down. Understanding the concept will help you get the boom down to what you can manage without bringing the the rig back to the shop with the boom ripped off, right?

Downwind Buffers And Mitigation Options

SPEAKER_01 24:53

Yeah, and I, you know, it's funny you bring that up. I I got a uh uh gently used machine to start using for maintenance in our program. And it's one of the fairly new uh machines, it's a 4023, right? Have either one of y'all ever run one of those things? So it's I had never I hadn't run one either, but I started spraying with that thing, and I was trying to do right with the boom height, right? I have a field right by the interstate, and it's like, man, I'm gonna I'm gonna do right. And that thing does not change in an instant. Like you don't just push a button and it's like, all right, we're 24 inches above or below or where we need to be, right? So it takes a second to change some of that stuff, but um, I mean, man, running that machine, I gained a lot of respect for applicators and all the things that they have to do because I wasn't running as fast as some of these guys do, right? I was running probably eight miles an hour, nine miles an hour at the most. And uh, man, there's just a lot going on and a lot of stuff that they have got to pay attention to whenever whenever they're running these machines that have the potential to go as fast as they do and and hitting all this different terrain. And and we may not be uh either in in Georgia or particularly in in West Texas, right, dealing with a ton of different terrain uh out there in the field. But man, I I just I ran that machine and I've run it a couple times, but it uh it just gave me a lot of appreciation for what growers do and what they deal with in the field and the success that we've had with these products, even even running a machine like that that's so complicated and and there's so much going on. So um I did want to talk about that just a little bit because I have very limited experience running some of this stuff that growers are actually running. It's a lot different maintaining a 24-inch boom height with a backpack or a spider or mudmaster or whatever than it is with a boom that's covering 80 feet and you're running 10 miles an hour. So um I I just wanted to give a shout out to growers who've done such a great job uh by and large, and particularly in uh in the cotton belt, right? And and you know, we we mentioned some of the stuff about how we got the label back. And uh if you were to go look at some of the comments that were made uh on the on the docket on the EPA's website, man, I I would say that the majority of those came from cotton growing areas. Um, and just illustrating the importance of this product, uh multiple having multiple tools in the toolbox, the importance of of things like that, the importance of flexibility on the farm. And so um, man, our our growers by and large have done a great job um doing what they've done with the product, but also fighting for um the products that they need, right? On their place. And um, you know, of course, there's always room for improvement with a lot of stuff, and that's kind of why we're doing this and making sure that everybody knows all the restrictions and things like that. But uh were there were there changes in in any of the downwind buffers or uh buffers around the fields? And uh would somebody be willing to take a stab at that one?

SPEAKER_02 28:18

Yeah, so there was one change. Last label was a little bit more complicated, right? Because you had a downwind buffer of 240 feet, unless you were in an ESA. Remember ESA's Endangered Species Act, and then the ESA determined county at that time, right? We're going back a couple of years. So they did simplify that a little bit. Uh the downwind buffer now is 240 feet. Now, this is a sticking point for me, and I think probably Dr. Dotre as well. We we all realize we can't leave 240 feet in our field that's not treated, right? That there's no way we're gonna survive on the farm, there's no way we're gonna feed or clothe the world, right? So uh again, another little shout out to the US EPA. The US EPA has developed a couple of routes for us to figure out how to deal with that 240-foot downwind buffer that now, whether it's uh us in Georgia or you in Texas, you know, basically have to deal with. And I call it the this section, I call it creative intelligence. You have to be intelligent enough to know what your options are to manage the downwind drift buffer. And then you have to be creative on how you use them. And obviously, we can't go through an example here on the podcast, but we'll we'll talk about you have two options. You can have mitigation credits, so those mitigation credits can reduce that to 140 feet. Some options include downwind drift barriers, hooded sprayers, uh spot spraying, for example. And I'll just give you one example. And even with the downwind drift barrier, you can have basic and advanced categories. So hopefully you have this information available for you. But for example, if we have a basic downwind drift barrier adjacent to the field, downwind, we can reduce that 240 foot by 50%. Okay, so we can get that down. That's still not an acceptable number. But if you can take advantage of the credit, that's step one. Step two, then what you want to do is you want to overlay that downwind buffer into what the EPA has defined as their managed areas. Make sure you have access to the managed areas because obviously, one thing we haven't talked about yet, you have to document all this stuff. The hardest thing to this whole label is documentation, but you got to be able to document this stuff. But the managed areas uh are not as robust as they should be, but they're a good start for us to use those. So for example, if you have roads, paved or gravel roads downwind, we can let that whatever, whatever we can't remove with the mitigation credit, say it's 120 feet, we can let that lay on paved, uh paved or gravel roads, mowed areas, bare ground, plowed, uh other plowed areas. So making sure you understand how to handle that 240-foot downwind buffer so it doesn't have to end up in your field takes a little bit of work, but it's something that you need to do now. But there are options to at least help reduce the overall impact from that downwind buffer.

SPEAKER_01 31:12

Right. And it's gonna, you know, it's gonna change for people, particularly I would think in West Texas, right? Because there's some of these managed areas seem to be uh a little more plentiful in maybe the lower southeast than than it's somewhere like West Texas, which is wide open, right? So uh something that certainly needs to be looked at and taken into consideration um going forward as it as it comes into buffers, but it's it's good to know that like paved roads and and things like that are included in that as well.

SPEAKER_02 31:46

There's some good options in there. Um the key is the the applicator and the farmer need to need to work together. The the challenge is it's a it's a moving target, right? Because the wind direction changes. Yeah. So so again, it is very complicated. It is very complex, but but that is the the opportunity for you to be able to manage that and not end up with that buffer in your field, right? Because we just we just can't survive if we can't treat the land that we're trying to grow the crops on.

Rainfall Runoff And Applicator Liability

SPEAKER_01 32:16

Right. Now, the one other thing before we get into some of the temperature stuff, uh, in particular, I I remember whenever the ri whenever the first draft was proposed, there was a uh restriction on on rainfall in the forecast and and things like that. Did that make it through uh and wind up on this label where if you had a half inch or more for in the forecast 48 hours after an application, you couldn't you couldn't apply. Is that is that the case?

SPEAKER_00 32:46

Yes, that's still a part of these three approved labels, language, something like uh within 48 hours, if rainfall is expected, that could create uh some runoff potential, then really app applications should not be made at that particular, you know, within that particular window.

SPEAKER_01 33:06

Right. And so, and and you know, we mentioned it briefly, but a lot of this is coming back to the Endangered Species Act, right?

SPEAKER_02 33:15

And so we're trying to be in compliance with something that's that's important for another reason, too, right? So do not apply when rainfall may exceed soil capacity within 48 hours, is on there to actually protect the applicator. Because just like Dr. Dutre said, if if you make an application, we get we get a heavy rain tonight, that rain leaves the field, that water would potentially have dicamba in it. Wherever it ended up, if you have a sensitive plant, that plant could be hurt, and you as the applicator are liable, right? So you need to understand if that product move up moves off target, it comes back on you. And that that is why that restriction is there, exactly what Dr. Dothray said, because we want to avoid runoff uh and that product leaving that field, right? The ultimate goal is always the same, put the product on target and make sure it stays there.

Temperature Thresholds Step By Step

SPEAKER_01 33:59

Right. And so the the big thing that I think was the biggest change, right? And you know, I've talked to people about it and tried to explain to them why it it could potentially be better than a calendar day, right? But it doesn't make it easy in terms of logistics, right? Because I mean these growers are are masters at logistics and moving from field to field and doing what they have to do and knowing what fields things have to be done in. But I just one more time want to maybe take our time a little bit and go through the uh temperature restrictions. And and Dr. Dotre, I know you mentioned it a second ago, um, but just one more time maybe going through the three different categories, what the differences are in those categories, and kind of how uh this whole thing is gonna play out on on a farm and and even potentially impact, you know. I know in in West Texas it's it's cotton or maybe corn and sorghum and those type situations. But if somebody's got soybeans, that changes things, right? Especially if it's an extend or an extend flex uh type soybeans. So one I want to one more time just kind of take our time and go through the temperature restrictions and uh what is necessary at given temperatures and even discuss where the weather data needs to come from because I check the weather channel or like people around here watch a guy named Chris Zellman on WALB. Like, we all got to be on the same page with where this data has got to come from.

SPEAKER_00 35:40

So so the data is coming from the National Weather Service. That's the forecasted temperature that that we need to pay attention to or follow. If I'm planning to make an application today and my forecasted high temperature both today and tomorrow is 84 degrees or less, then I'm I'm reading and following the guidelines that the the labels have pertaining to you know rates and DRAs and VRAs and appropriate nozzles and all the other things that we've talked about. But but but essentially the restriction in you know the number of acres I can spray, or even if I can spray at all, you know, up to 84 degrees, I'm good to go. Now the next category, you know, 85 degrees to 94. And again, if I can just reiterate it's the National Weather Service is forecasted high temperature for today and tomorrow. So if I'm now within that window, 85 to 94, I'm I'm restricted in the amount of acres that I can cover today to 50 percent. I can spray 50 percent of my acres within the colony that I'm you know managing, and I have to wait for you know, I essentially have to not spray tomorrow, but can resume my spray on the third day after I started to cover the remaining 50 percent. But to me, the one important piece of information there, and and I feel like this is confusing to some, and including myself, is is I've got to now pay attention on that third day to make sure that I am not at you know 95 degrees or above. But if I'm again within that, you know, 85 to 94, I can resume my spray and cover the remainder of those acres. And and then the last category, which again is the one that you know we need to pay closest attention to, I feel like in this region is forecasted temperature, National Weather Service, 95 degrees or above on the day of the application or the day after the application. That that's putting me in a in a do-not spray scenario. And and I feel like for me in the area that I'm servicing, you know, this is gonna be the the key restriction that likely will make this product, you know, the effectiveness of of using this product within a production system to be very much now early season. Because as I look at at the average high temperature in West Texas, you know, June, July, August, I'm at you know 91 to 93 degrees. That's that's the average high. So so there's going to be a lot of days when we're gonna be at that 95 degrees or above. So so we're paying attention to that. We're we're using this product early season, and we're likely switching a lot of our acres to areas where we don't want to be relying on dikamba as a major means of managing our weeds. And then we're going to rely on a lot of other very effective chemistries, those active through the soil, those active uh you know, through the foliage, like like our glufosinates to to be the major driver in those areas. And again, making sure we're paying attention to to the temperature restrictions that that we now have in place for the next two years with these three approved ICAMBA formulations.

SPEAKER_01 40:06

Right.

unknown 40:07

Right.

SPEAKER_01 40:07

Dr. Culpepper, anything you want to add on on the temperature stuff?

SPEAKER_02 40:11

No, I you know, I would I would say we have tried to fight this approach pretty aggressively. We will continue to try to fight it. You know, my experience, we've been doing this for a decade. Um, so far in my career, I have not had a volatility issue with any of our growers, right? And we've made many of applications that have been a whole lot warmer, right? So it it is frustrating, it is challenging for our growers, but it uh I think it's important to understand there is science behind volatility. The amount of volatility is directly related to air temperature, that's related to soil temperature. It's really soil temperature, right, that's driving it. So uh all I would say is it is it is frustrating. Um we are working to try to come up with a solution, but but remember, these labels have to withhold the onslaught of activist lawsuits in the court system, right? So a lot of these decisions that you and I don't necessarily like are being put on a label to help it survive in the courts. And um this is certainly one, as Dr. Dotre has mentioned, that we're we're not big fans of. I do like the National Weather Service site, it's uh www.weather.gov. It's really easy. I can get my two-day high temperatures in about four seconds off my phone. So that's the site shouldn't frustrate you. It's just the restrictions that you get to um when you look at the table, I think is is is important to highlight there. And um just hang in there. If you can help us keep the product on target and put it on target and keep it on target, I think we can work together to improve the label over time. But right now you have to understand this is this is half getting you uh a product that we know you need, and the other half making sure it can survive what is going to happen in courts, right? And you should hopefully you know this by now. We were talking about February 6th was a great day uh because we got these tools registered for you again. Well, February 20th, your activist groups were uh in the court system filing lawsuits against the labels, right? So that's part of our life.

SPEAKER_01 42:10

Yeah, so in my mind, I think we hit most of the the major changes. Uh were there any other changes that we kind of need to discuss and make sure that growers are aware of going into 2026?

SPEAKER_02 42:24

Yeah, let me let me hit a couple and then Dr. Dotre made. We didn't even talk about the Endangered Species Act restrictions. So hopefully you guys are are learning about the Endangered Species Act. These labels all have requirements. Uh, we all have at least three uh runoff mitigation uh points that we must meet. If you're in a PULA or pesticide use limitation area, you have to have six. So make sure you take your time and use this tool to start getting comfortable with the requirements coming off the Endangered Species Act, which will impact every single pesticide that we use moving forward. Liberty Ultra is an example of another product that that's already on there. A couple of other ones that I would just like to take a second and highlight before I turn it over to DoTre. You talked about sprayer speed, how fast the sprayer goes. We really would like to see you at less than 10 miles an hour with these products. We've got data that says that improves on target applications, but the label lets you go to 15 miles per hour if that's what you want to do. GPA, you're restricted on your GPA, 15 gallons per acre. You can go more, you can't go less. Again, that is not myself or Dr. Dotre. That is uh what the label required. Inversions are huge, absolutely huge. Make sure you understand what an inversion is. Never ever apply a pesticide. Uh, you talked about application time of day. That is the one of the restrictions to help you avoid inversions, but common sense is the most impactful way to avoid inversions. That's a huge problem for us. Wind speed, you talked about these products can be applied from three to ten miles an hour. Um, you obviously, again, another restriction why you don't apply it at less than three miles an hour is to help you avoid inversions. That's my number one call. There's no win. Why can't I apply these products? That restriction is again to help you avoid the potential for inversions, forming, and you don't know it. Greater than 10 miles an hour, you can't apply it. That should be good common sense. A couple other ones, just real fast. These are not new, but it's important. Do not apply these products with an airplane or a drone. Uh, it needs to be with our ground rigs. Do not add AMS, right? We talked about the tank mix flexibility has increased. One thing that has not increased, do not add AMS. Even when we add the new VRA rate, we cannot overcome uh how AMS increases volatility of the dicamba. And then the other one, uh, well, a couple of other ones important. Maybe Dr. Dotre can expand on it. One of the new restrictions is do not exceed one pound acid equivalent of dicamba per calendar year. That's not per crop, that's per calendar year. That's a big deal. You might say, well, one pound, uh, what is that? What are you talking about? For example, Strix at 22 ounces is a half a pound. So we can make two applications of Strix and Ginia at 12.8 ounces is a half pound. So we can make two applications in Genia. Tavium at a half pound is 3.53 pints. So you can make two applications there. And then uh don't forget you have to have uh private or commercial pastile applicator's license to apply these products. Uh Dr. Dotre can add to anything I just said.

SPEAKER_00 45:23

You're pretty complete. Uh you're always pretty complete. But but the one thing I just wanted to talk about that the the restriction and overall amount of uh AI that can be used within the calendar year, and and that was just mentioned. Maybe maybe I can just turn the clock back for a minute, Camp. I think when we first started this uh podcast, you you made reference to the over-the-top die cambases. And to me, that's been one of the points of confusion. You know, the terminology over-the-top is is really allowing us to specifically identify these three approved die cambases. But that's not saying that these products are are only to be used for you know over the top or post-emergence. So so the restriction of up to one pound you know per acre per year, which essentially means you know, two applications of of these formulations. It doesn't mean that two have to be over the top. In fact, you know, very likely in the region that I'm servicing, you know, these, you know, the first one may be a pre-plant or at plant, you know, followed by an early post-emergence. So so now I've I've I've I've met really that requirement in in any additional application is probably going to be based on now other other active ingredients uh to help manage the weeds, you know, mid-season and and for the rest of the way. So so the so big change, you know, from two pounds down to one pound, all the other restrictions that Dr. Culpepper made reference to, uh, I think critically important.

Gramoxone Uncertainty And Generic Paraquat

SPEAKER_01 47:09

All right. So one other thing that I just wanted to mention, particularly as it comes to controversy and activist lawsuits and and potential impacts, right? Uh we've discussed Dicamba a lot, but it is not the only herbicide or chemistry that uh is under scrutiny, right? Of course, we all know that there's constant controversy surrounding products like glyphosate. Uh, there has been for 2,4D in the past, um, but one that uh has kind of been shaken up in recent months, and I even texted Dr. Culpeffer to make sure that I wasn't getting pumped or something, is is surrounding our parake type products, and in particular Gromoxone, which is the brand name that is made by Cingena, and Cyngena has elected to halt production of that product uh in from what I understand. I don't understand very much, but I I think I understand that correctly. And so there are still a lot of generic parac products that are out there, uh, but there are also still there's still active litigation in my from what I understand on this particular product. And so first thing, I think we should discuss the importance of that product, you know, why why is it important in our neck of the woods? And and we kind of talked about it before the podcast got started, and and there's there's differences in in why it may be important in Georgia or in the in the lower southeast versus the mid-south versus um West Texas in particular. So um if you guys kind of want to take that and and run with it, and then we'll kind of bounce some stuff back and forth.

SPEAKER_00 49:02

So so so I'll I guess start this discussion. I I I think you know, gromoxone or you know, paracod in general is is a critically important herbicide for us uh in West Texas. We're pretty versatile in in how we use it and and why we use it from you know early you know burn down of weeds such as you know Russian thistle and and kosher, uh burning down products at plant in and maybe more of a of a minimum till strip till reduced till system to control other early emerging grass and broadleaf weeds. And and I think volunte controlling volunteer cotton in in my region is just becoming more and more important in additional germplasms that are brought to market that are limiting products that we can use to control those volunteer plants I think is putting a lot more in importance on paraquad and chromosome and the and the ability that that it it can to control those weeds. Uh so early season weed control, volunteer cotton control, and then just you know, fast forward to the end of the season for us uh you know, managing our cotton with with some harvest aids, uh unless folks are waiting for cold temperatures, which uh in a lot of instances we don't want to do because of the reduction in in cotton fiber quality, you know, we're using harvest aids to try to speed up the desiccation and leaf drop and parakeat is certainly something very important for us to use uh in those scenarios. So, you know, based on what I understand, if if if Singenta is gonna stop making, you know, Gromoxone in June, and and you know, it'll take a little while before you know the pipeline to dry up, specifically for gromoxone. You know, thankfully in the short term, I feel like there are other paraquats that that will be available, the generics. And I think I was told over 750 companies actually have generic paraquat formulations on a worldwide basis uh in in in the foreseeable future. Hopefully there'll be opportunities for other you know formulations of of paraquat, but but long term I think that is really something that is quite concerning for all the reasons that I that I hopefully mentioned. It it's it's a very important product for us to manage weeds, manage volunteer cotton, and for us to use as harvest aids. And Dr. Culpepper, I know that's an important product for you uh in Georgia as well.

SPEAKER_02 52:01

Yeah, I I think you're exactly right, Dr. Dotre. You know, for cotton, we we primarily use it pre-plant, probably less critical for us, maybe in in cotton production in general. But I even had a farmer two days ago that I commenced to talk to the New York Times uh about this issue. He said, I can't do conservation tillage without this product, right? So there is a direct correlation to having these non-selective products and conservation tillage, which is is obviously a big topic uh politically speaking. But I I'll highlight uh, you know, I work in probably 35 different vegetables, and I can't grow a lot of these crops without having these tools. And whether you're a cotton farmer or you're part of the activist lawsuits that's trying to take these products out, you probably need to be eating some fresh market produce, right? Some from fresh vegetables that are critical to your health, right? So understanding the importance there, peanut production, as we all know, this product is extremely valuable. So holistically for agriculture, I mean, we could talk for days about the critical importance of these tools. And and the other thing that, you know, I would like to highlight, not only is it important for for you, your growers and my growers, I mean, the training that occurs to use this product, right? It's a restricted use pesticide, which means we all have to all have a pesticide license, which is very difficult to obtain. And then once you obtain it, you have to go to reoccurring trainings. But this product also requires that you take an online training once every three years. And the reason I want to highlight that is Singenta has really, really shouldered this one in every three-year training, which is one of the best trainings I've ever seen online. I'm not a fan of online trainings, but this is one of the best that I've seen. Without that training, there is no paraquat by anyone. So when Singenta steps out of that platform, I'm concerned. Even the US EPA, if you go to the EPA's website to get to the training, they highlight it's a Singenta training, right? Singenta is one of the most efficient, most effective, most productive regulatory agencies when it comes to plant protection tools. And them removing themselves from the discussion of this product is really concerning on many levels. Number one, again, is that training. If somebody doesn't pick that training up, then there'll be no product right there before we even get to the lawsuits that they're having to deal with and they're fighting to try to keep the tool. So again, this just highlights what we've been talking about. The the challenges are are serious, they're real on our toolbox. We've really got to work together. This one is extremely important. Um, hopefully, the generic manufacturers you're talking about, maybe they can develop a task force, maybe they can be creative and go at this in a unit unified approach. Um, but it's certainly each something each and every grower, academic, etc., needs to express to those manufacturers the importance of this these tools uh and to our ability to not only produce cotton, but to also put very important healthy foods on your table.

SPEAKER_01 55:06

Right. And I and I think that this whole situation just illustrates what can happen with a product like this when it gets tied up in the in the court system. And and yes, we have those generics, but you know, what and I hope that they can band together and maybe withstand some of that pressure in the court of public opinion or from these activist lawsuits and different things like that, because it is such an important product, and and I don't know that it could ever be replaced uh in terms of what all it helps us with, right? And even talking about volunteer management, Dr. Dotre, I mean, we're still fighting bull weevil in some areas of the cotton belt in South Texas and and in Mexico, and I'm that's a big deal to not have a product like that for volunteer control. So um certainly a lot of things to think about, and I did want to end with with that one that's a real world example of what can happen when these things get tied up in the court system. But real quick, anything else that we didn't mention or that y'all want to talk about um before we kind of wrap this thing up?

SPEAKER_00 56:19

Yeah, you know, I I guess I would just maybe conclude, you know, we we we have focused on on the importance of of dicamba to manage weeds. We just kind of talked about you know the the need for gromoxone or or paraquat. You know, I'm I'm thankful that that we have some some effective tools that we can use in in our crop production systems. Uh certainly want to encourage growers to to consider you know diversifying in in their weed management efforts, you know, not just diversifying the chemistries that we're using, but being as diversified as possible with other methods of weed control from you know cultural control, mechanical control, and and you know, other things that that that are important uh to all of us uh as we move forward. So very effective tools that we have. We need to continue to use them wisely and appropriately, and and hopefully, you know, our toolbox will will remain, you know, with with with several you know options and even some potential new options uh as we move forward.

SPEAKER_02 57:32

Right. You know, I I think Dr. Dautre nailed it on the head when it comes to weed management. I'll I'll add a uh kind of a side approach to to also stress the importance of these tools, right? You you look at the toolbox, it's been threatened for decades through resistance, and resistance is certainly one of the ways that we lose these tools, and Dr. Dotre highlighted that. But now our toolbox is is threatened by Maha, make America Healthy Again. It's threatened by these lawsuits, these activist lawsuits we've talked about. We it's threatened by over-regulation, driven by Maha and these activist lawsuits, right? So we have all of these pressures on the toolbox, and it is overwhelming. And one of the ways that each and every one of you can help us is we need you to make sure you put every single product on target and keep it there, and you respect the value of these tools. If you respect the value of the tool, you'll do a better job of putting it on target, which gives you better pest control, it's better for sustainability, it's better on resistance management, it's better on all of those things that we want to do. And we really need you to do that. And then the second thing we need you to do is we need you to engage uh with us and your grower groups and everything else. This is a different world. It's a different world if we're going to keep these tools in the toolbox. And it's critical uh that your voice is heard uh through your local grower groups, your academics like Dr. Daure, and et cetera, because this this is a very important time for the future of the plant protection toolbox.

Final Takeaways And Thanks

SPEAKER_01 59:03

Right. And and we're talking about, you know, we briefly mentioned maybe some defoliation type things, but uh even with a lot of this Make America Healthy Again type movement, lately there's been a big push on pre-harvest desiccation. And I don't know how on earth we can grow cotton without a defoliant, you know. So um, these are things, if you don't think it impacts you, it does. And uh it's something that we have got to be thinking about and and start getting creative on finding solutions and you know, kind of like Dr. Culpepper mentioned and Dr. Dothre too, uh getting involved and relaying the necessity of some of these things to the people that are making uh these decisions. It is absolutely vital to the future of not only cotton production, but agriculture in the in the United States. So all right. Well, thanks for joining us for this episode of the Cotton Specialist Corner Podcast. Again, want to thank uh Dr. Pete Dotre and Dr. Stanley Culpepper for joining us to discuss uh this vital topic for agriculture in the United States. But uh, if there is any questions, feel free to reach out and certainly want to thank Cotton Incorporated for the sponsorship of this effort. Thank y'all.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:20

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