Look to Ag Leader to Help You Comply with New Dicamba Rules and Regulations

Sometimes, rules and regulations come along to change how you manage your farm. The federal government’s recent action on the common herbicide ingredient dicamba is one such example, and resilient farmers may need to make some changes to comply with new regulations laid out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in October 2017.

That’s when EPA ruled that three crop protection products labeled for in-season use containing dicamba  — a common herbicide for weed control in several common crops — are restricted-use pesticides. That classification changes the management requirements for using those products, especially in the 34 states where approved for use on traited cotton and soybeans. Manufacturers of chemicals including dicamba also revised labels spelling out the new requirements for farmers.

In addition to mandating farmers apply the chemical under specific environmental conditions and attend training to avoid over-application and off-target movement, the change requires them to “maintain specific records regarding the use of these products to improve compliance with label restrictions,” according to the EPA.

The EPA ruling may pose a challenge to many, especially those who don’t use precision ag equipment. The new regulations require increased documentation that must be recorded within 14 days of application. Don’t worry! Ag Leader can help you follow the new government requirements.

What tools are available to provide application documentation?
Ag Leader’s SmartReport function automatically generates PDF reports that provide location, product information, applied totals, as-applied maps and more, right from the display.

Does Ag Leader have tools to help me prevent product drift?
Absolutely! DirectCommand provides reliable application rate control. Off-target movement, a main concern of the volatile dicamba compound, can be managed with real-time monitoring of droplet size based on system pressure and nozzle definition via an easy-to-use interface with a dynamic color-coded pressure gauge.

What other benefits does the DirectCommand system offer?

• Eliminate overapplication, overlap, spray drift and application gaps.
• Increase productivity during tight application windows.
• Reduce fuel costs and field compaction by applying multiple products at one time.
• Target product application through crop sensing and prescription application strategies.
• Document all field application data and provide simple reporting.

Rest assured, when you enter your fields this year to apply your crop protection products, Ag Leader’s DirectCommand system will be ready to help you keep accurate records and effective application coverage. Ultimately, it will help you continue to stay resilient in meeting and exceeding your crop output goals.