The new EPA-approved product label for XtendiMax herbicide contains certain changes to ensure growers can use the product without issues
Bird's eye view of Bayer’s headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany. (Credit: Bayer AG.)
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given a five-year approval to sell Bayer’s new XtendiMax weed killer in the country.
The EPA said that approval is only for use on dicamba-tolerant (DT) cotton and soybeans and will expire in 2025.
With the approval, Bayer’s XtendiMax is expected to be available for next year’s growing season in the US.
Bayer Crop Science North America president Lisa Safarian said: “We welcome the EPA’s science-based review and registration decision providing growers access to this important tool.
“Growers need options, and we are proud of our role in bringing innovations like XtendiMax herbicide forward to help growers safely and successfully protect their crops from tough-to-control weeds.”
The EPA stated that the registrations for the dicamba products include new control measures to ensure that the products can be used effectively while protecting the environment including non-target plants, animals and other crops that are not tolerant to the dicamba chemical.
The EPA said: “With today’s decision, farmers now have the certainty they need to make plans for their 2021 growing season.
“After reviewing substantial amounts of new information, conducting scientific assessments based on the best available science, and carefully considering input from stakeholders we have reached a resolution that is good for our farmers and our environment.”
The EPA has issued control measures for the use of the herbicide
Though EPA has approved the herbicide, it has also issued control measures to ensure that farmers can use the product without any issues.
The measures require an approved pH-buffering agent to be tank mixed with over-the-top (OTT) dicamba products prior to all applications to control volatility.
The EPA has also directed to simplify the label and use directions so that farmers can easily determine when and how to apply dicamba. It has also prohibited the OTT application of dicamba on soybeans after June 30 and cotton after July 30.
Last month, Bayer secured regulatory approval from the European Commission for its XtendFlex soybean technology for food, feed, import and processing in the European Union.