The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s cutoff date for applying over-the-top dicamba herbicides to soybeans is June 12. However, soybean growers’ window for application may be closing much sooner than that.

In February, EPA announced revised federal labels with an application cutoff on June 12 or when the plant hits the V4 growth stage – whichever comes first. Productive weather this spring has allowed the V4 stage to come sooner than normal, meaning applicators must look at the crop instead of the calendar to ensure application compliance.

Soybean planting and emergence are well ahead of pace in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana.

Read more on dicamba application guidelines here.