See national chem pricing trends in the FBN Research report
This guide includes the following sections:
Dicamba is a selective, systemic herbicide that offers burndown, preemergence, and post-emergence control of annual, biennial, and perennial broadleaf weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural settings.
It is registered for use in a variety of crops, including corn, cotton, sorghum, sugarcane, wheat, and soybeans. It’s also used to manage weeds on fallow and pasture acres. Dicamba is used extensively in commercial turf, forestry, golf course, and recreational area management.
The active ingredient was first registered for use in the United States in 1967. In 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered the first over-the-top dicamba herbicides on dicamba-tolerant soybean and cotton varieties.
Dicamba is available in many formulations that have evolved over time. Dicamba acids were first developed and tend to be more volatile than more recent dicamba salt formulations. Over time, progressively larger, heavier salt formulations have been registered, which has reduced the volatility of dicamba herbicides. Some of the most common formulations are listed below. Dicamba herbicides may be formulated as liquids, wettable powders, standard granules, and water-dispersible granules.
Formulation | Product Example |
Acid | Saddle-Up®, Vision®, Celsius® |
Dimethylamine (DMA) salt | Banvel®, Dicamba DMA 4 Value Pick |
Sodium (Na) salt | |
Diglycolamine (DGA) salt | Clarity®, Dicamba DGA 4 Value Pick, DiCash DGA-4 |
Bis aminopropyl methylamine (BAPMA) salt | Engenia® (no longer registered for use) |
Dicamba is a Group 4 site-of-action herbicide (synthetic auxin). It mimics the natural plant hormone auxin to stimulate rapid, uncontrolled cell growth in sensitive plants. Eventually, the affected plant’s vascular tissue is destroyed, leading to death.
Group 4 and Group 19 herbicides are collectively referred to as plant growth regulators and include 2,4-D, MCPA, clopyralid*, and fluroxypyr active ingredients, among others.
Weed control may be achieved as soon as seven to 21 days after a dicamba application, depending on conditions. Since dicamba is a systemic herbicide, favorable growing conditions will result in faster plant uptake, translocation, and weed kill. Weed injury symptoms may not develop immediately after dicamba exposure. Symptoms tend to appear first in areas of new growth.
Variables affecting dicamba efficacy can include:
Temperature
Relative humidity
Rainfall following application
Soil moisture
Plant stress
Light availability
Many crops, including grapes, soybeans, cotton, flowers, fruit trees, and tomatoes, among others, are sensitive to dicamba, so it’s important to watch for symptoms of dicamba injury in non-target plants due to drift or volatilization. You may notice leaf cupping, stunted growth, or delayed or reduced crop flowering in sensitive crops exposed to dicamba via drift or volatilization.
As a systemic herbicide, dicamba is most effective under conditions that favor healthy plant growth.
Dicamba is most widely used in corn crops and may be applied pre-plant, pre-emergence, or post-emergence (excluding sweet corn). In recent years, in-season post-emergence dicamba applications have become popular in dicamba-tolerant soybean and cotton crops. However, in early 2024, the EPA revoked labels for over-the-top crop applications in corn and soybeans (see product updates below for more information).
Typical rates for DiCash DGA-4 in corn are:
Dicamba application rates will vary depending on the:
Product
Application timing
Tillage method
Crop
Targeted weed species
Environmental conditions
Consult the herbicide label for specific application requirements and suitable tank mix partners.
Dicamba can damage susceptible crops through drift and volatilization. To protect non-target plants, follow label instructions and best application practices. Adding a drift reduction adjuvant, such as FieldGrip™ DRA, can help keep dicamba spray applications on target.
For broad-spectrum grass and broadleaf weed control, dicamba can be tank-mixed with compatible corn herbicides and applied as a burndown, pre-emergence, or post-emergence application in corn. Dicamba is also commonly used to burndown broadleaf weeds prior to planting soybean, cotton, sorghum, and wheat crops. Be aware of plant-back restrictions, as there may be a waiting interval of 14 to 60 days for planting soybean varieties following a dicamba application.
Common tank mix partners for DiCash DGA-4 in corn include:
Glyphosate in tolerant corn hybrids
A crop oil concentrate may enhance dicamba efficacy, especially in dry weather conditions, when corn is less than five inches tall, or when applying DiCash DGA-4 alone or tank mixed with atrazine. Using crop oil concentrates after corn emergence introduces the risk of crop injury, so follow all label instructions regarding all tank mix partners.
DiCash DGA-4 may be tank mixed with products containing glyphosate, paraquat*, or prometryn to control additional broadleaf weeds and grasses in cotton.
DiCash DGA-4 may be tank mixed with products containing glyphosate or 2,4-D approved for preharvest uses on soybeans.
See product label instructions for tank mix recommendations for other crops, including wheat, sorghum, sugarcane, turf, small grain, and pasture.
Dicamba was first registered for use in-season on dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans in 2016. In February 2024, the EPA issued a notice that over-the-top dicamba herbicides are no longer registered and are not permitted for sale or use. For more information, please visit the EPA’s dicamba page.
Are you spray-compliant? Find out what farmers need to know about the proposed EPA herbicide label updates in this FBN blog.
Dicamba has been widely used in agricultural production for decades, making it a vulnerable target for developing herbicide resistance. The International Herbicide-Resistant Weed Database reports that 44 weed species are resistant to Group 4 herbicides worldwide as of 2024. Dicamba-resistant waterhemp and Palmer amaranth populations have expanded throughout corn-growing regions in recent years, making the herbicide less effective on these troublesome weeds.
Make timely herbicide applications when weeds are 4” or smaller
Use multiple sites and modes of action
Employ crop rotation to diversify herbicides
Use full herbicide rates and layered residuals to extend the window of weed control
Add effective adjuvants to improve spray performance and plant uptake
Scout fields after applications to verify the application was effective
Add cultural or mechanical weed control practices, including tillage where appropriate
Learn how to manage 5,000 pests through the FBN Pest Solutions pages.
While dicamba is relatively safe for humans, aquatic organisms, honey bees, and mammals from a toxicity standpoint, applicators should still use best safety practices when using the product, including:
Do not enter treated areas during the 24-hour restricted entry interval (REI) or until the spray solution has dried.
When handling dicamba, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including a long shirt, pants, and closed-toed shoes.
Wash your hands after handling the herbicide and remove clothing and PPE immediately if the product gets on them.
Follow all label instructions to ensure the safe use of dicamba.
Many specialty crops, ornamental species, and row crops are sensitive to dicamba exposure. To avoid off-target movement to vulnerable crops, follow all label instructions when spraying dicamba and use these best application practices:
Avoid applications when weather conditions favor drift or volatilization from treated areas. Even a small amount of herbicide moving off-target from treated fields may injure crops miles away.
Use the label recommended spray nozzles, spray volumes, boom height, and sprayer ground speed.
Add required and/or recommended adjuvants to reduce the risk of off-target movement.
Carefully clean equipment following a dicamba application. Be mindful of residual chemicals that could injure non-tolerant crops.
FBN offers many dicamba formulations to fit your broadleaf weed control needs.
Cotton: Consider combining DiCash DGA-4 and Willowood Paraquat 3SL* as a burndown application in cotton.
Corn: Add Willowood Glypho 5 with DiCash DGA-4 for a convenient and effective burndown, pre-emergence, or early post-emergence application in glyphosate-tolerant corn hybrids.
For a complete weed control solution, add label-recommended adjuvants like FieldGrip™ DRA for even more cost savings.
With a convenient online platform, transparent pricing, and direct-to-farm delivery available on your schedule, FBN puts Farmers First®.
Herbicides 101: Everything Growers Need to Know About Herbicides
Crop Nutrition 101: Everything Growers Need to Know About Crop Nutrition
Clethodim 101: Everything Growers Need to Know About Clethodim
Glufosinate 101: Everything Farmers Need to Know About Glufosinate
Glyphosate 101: Everything Farmers Need to Know About Glyphosate
Fungicides 101: Everything Farmers Need to Know About Fungicides
Insecticides 101: Everything Farmers Need to Know About Insecticides
Inoculants 101: Everything Farmers Need to Know About Inoculants
Biostimulants 101: Everything Growers Need to Know About Biostimulants
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Status®* is a restricted use pesticide.
Willowood Paraquat 3SL is a restricted use pesticide.
Bite is a restricted use pesticide.
GCS Atrazine 4L is a restricted use pesticide.
Aceto (2.70) + Atraz (1.34) Value Pick is a restricted use pesticide.
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