Dicamba Herbicide Updates
Dicamba containing herbicides have been in the news and under review by state and federal pesticide regulators since 2017, based on excessively high numbers of off-target movement (drift and volatilization) complaints.
This website is intended to provide interested parties with regulatory and other related information associated with dicamba herbicides in Indiana. Additional resources will be provided as they are available.
*NEW* Dicamba Update for 2026
On February 6, 2026, EPA announced the registration of Over-the-Top (OTT) Dicamba products for the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons. OISC is working through updating our website and to provide current information to growers and applicators.
The three federally registered OTT Dicamba products are: Engenia by BASF (EPA Reg No. 7969-507), Tavium by Syngenta (EPA Reg No. 100-1753), and Stryax by Bayer (EPA Reg No. 264-1241).
Indiana has a state-specific restriction: the three products listed above cannot be applied after June 12th.
EPA Resources/Announcements:
- EPA Implements Strongest Protections in Agency History for OTT Dicamba (source: EPA)
- Registration of Dicamba for Use on Dicamba-Tolerant Crops (source: EPA)
Dicamba Use in Indiana:
According to IC 15-16-4-37, any pesticide product containing dicamba concentrations greater than or equal to 6.5% and are labeled for agricultural uses are classified as a restricted use pesticide (RUP) in Indiana. The RUP classification does not apply to products labeled solely for use on turf or nonagricultural (i.e. lawn and landscape) use sites.
Sale, distribution, and use of a state RUP follows the same regulations as a federal RUP. Additional information on RUPs can be found on our Distribution and Sales of Restricted Use Pesticides page.
Dicamba products that are classified as state RUPs also have a Highly Volatile Herbicide (HVH) Determination in the state of Indiana. According to IC 15-16-4-17, an HVH is a herbicide that the Indiana Pesticide Review Board (IPRB) has determined to be capable of emitting vapors that may cause serious injury to non-target plants through the movement of these vapors from the application site. Through the HVH determination, the IPRB established requirements to significantly reduce the incidence of off-target movement of dicamba to protect sensitive non-target plants. Requirements include:
- Prohibit the sale or distribution of dicamba HVHs to end users, except with written permission provided by OISC;
- Prohibit the application of dicamba HVHs, except with written permission provided by OISC;
- Require the use of volatility reduction adjuvants (VRA) in each application tank mix that contains a dicamba HVH.
- VRAs are not required during October 1 - March 1.
OISC has implemented the written permission requirement through a general permitting process. OISC will not be issuing individual written notices of permission or individual permits. Instead, a General Permit has been issued by OISC to cover all HVH sale and distribution and HVH use. Therefore:
- All Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) dealers registered and permitted by OISC are automatically covered by the General Permit for Sale or Distribution and are eligible to sell or distribute the HVHs.
- All certified and licensed Category 1 (agricultural) commercial applicators and all certified and licensed private applicators (farmers) are automatically covered by the General Permit for Application and are eligible to use the HVHs according to label directions.
As with all pesticide use, applicators must follow all directions and restrictions also identified on the product label.
Indiana Dicamba Resources:
Other Additional Dicamba Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Are the over-the-top dicamba herbicides previously labeled for use on soybeans (i.e. Engenia, Tavium, and Xtendimax herbicides) still available for purchase and use in 2025?
No. The federal and state registrations for those products were vacated and cancelled in 2024. Although existing stocks of those products in the hands of dealers and applicators were allowed to be used up to and including June 12, 2024, new registrations for use of these three products in 2025 are currently still pending at U.S. EPA. - If Engenia, Tavium, and Xtendimax are no longer registered, can older labeled dicamba products be used on dicamba tolerant soybeans?
No, not unless soybeans are added as a target crop on those older dicamba herbicide labels at some point in the future. It should also be noted that many older agricultural dicamba herbicide labels still have legal restrictions regarding planting soybeans following application. Applicators must still read and follow all label directions. - Can a non-certified applicator apply these products in accordance with the state supervision rules?
If the dicamba product is an RUP with the federal label limiting the use to fully certified and licensed applicators, the federal requirements must be followed. However, if the dicamba product is not a federal RUP with applicator restrictions, the state law and the general permit still allow legal use of those products by non-certified applicators being supervised by certified and licensed applicators.