EPA Grants Two-Year Registration for Over-the-Top Dicamba Use

New restrictions aim to address drift and volatility concerns while supporting farmers' weed control needs

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted a two-year registration for over-the-top (OTT) dicamba application on dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybean crops. This decision comes in response to advocacy from cotton and soybean farmers who have faced challenges with herbicide-resistant weeds. The EPA has imposed the strongest safeguards in agency history, including cutting the maximum annual application rate in half, doubling required volatility reduction agents, mandating conservation practices, and restricting applications during high-temperature conditions.

Why it matters

Dicamba has been a critical tool for farmers in the Cotton Belt to control resistant weeds like Palmer amaranth, which can grow up to 3 inches per day and devastate entire fields. However, past issues with dicamba drift and volatility have raised concerns about the product's environmental impact. The EPA's new restrictions aim to balance the needs of farmers with protecting human health and the environment.

The details

The EPA's two-year registration for OTT dicamba use includes several new restrictions, such as: cutting the maximum annual application rate in half to 1.0 lb per acre, doubling the required amount of volatility reduction agents, mandating conservation practices to protect endangered species, and prohibiting applications when temperatures are forecasted to be 85°F or higher on the day of or the day after application. The registration also retains legacy restrictions, including the Restricted Use Pesticide designation, annual mandatory training for certified applicators, and a 240-foot downwind spray drift buffer. The EPA will closely monitor real-world outcomes and adjust the restrictions if necessary.

  • The EPA established the new OTT dicamba restrictions on February 9, 2026.

The players

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The federal agency responsible for regulating pesticides and protecting human health and the environment.

America's cotton and soybean farmers

Farmers, particularly in the Cotton Belt, who have advocated for continued access to dicamba as a tool to control resistant weeds.

President Trump

The former U.S. president who remained committed to supporting America's farmers and rural communities.

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What’s next

The EPA will closely monitor the real-world outcomes of the new OTT dicamba restrictions over the next two growing seasons. The agency will review performance data, incident reports, and environmental monitoring results before considering any future approvals beyond the current two-year registration.

The takeaway

The EPA's new restrictions on OTT dicamba use aim to strike a balance between supporting farmers' need for effective weed control tools and protecting human health and the environment. The agency's commitment to science-based decision-making and willingness to adjust course if necessary demonstrates its efforts to address the complex challenges surrounding the use of this herbicide.