New dicamba herbicides require care

Dicamba tolerance is finally here, as Monsanto’s Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans will enter fields this spring. But with this powerful new herbicide system comes a push for additional training and careful application.

Farmers Co-op Society agronomist Ben Van Beek, a certified crop advisor based in Sanborn, Iowa, said the ability to “start clean with a good burndown” using a spray-and-plant or plant-and-spray application seems to be the most appealing aspect for farmers.

Applying dicamba herbicide at planting requires either Monsanto’s XtendiMax with Vapor Grip or BASF’s Engenia herbicides. Using older dicamba formulations at planting, like Banvel, violates the label.

Some farmers have been taking a wait-and-see approach, while others have been willing to try dicamba-tolerant beans on more acres, Van Beek said.

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