Last week was the kickstart to meeting season for me and it was great to see those of you at pesticide trainings and the Nitrogen Challenge meeting. For this column, I wanted to share a little more detail about the changes for this coming growing season regarding pesticide label language and requirements for the endangered species act (ESA) to mitigate drift and runoff. The information below came directly from a CropWatch article (https://go.unl.edu/skj7) written by Dr. Milos Zaric with UNL Agronomy, Greg Puckett with the UNL Pesticide Office, and Craig Romary with the Nebraska Dept. of Ag. Next week I will simplify this into specific steps to help you be in compliance for the 2026 growing season.

“Both Enlist One^® and Liberty^® ULTRA include ESA compliance requirements on their labels. These are not optional; they are enforceable use directions intended to protect federally listed species and their habitats (as well as other non-target plants and animals) from potential exposure due to off-target pesticide movement. 

Before applying any listed product with ESA compliance requirements, applicators must consult the EPA BLT (Bulletins Live Two) map web tool to determine whether any application restrictions apply to the time and location of their planned application. A valid bulletin must be obtained within six months of the application, and the version specific to the planned month of application must be followed.

When applying multiple pesticide products as a tank mix, applicators must follow the most restrictive label requirements, including any ecological spray drift, runoff and erosion mitigation measures associated with either product. This added responsibility means users must verify compliance before making applications, particularly when operating in areas designated as vulnerable under the EPA’s mitigation framework. 

The runoff and erosion mitigation measures will have a point system: each mitigation measure carries a point value, and to comply, the points for each site must meet the points for the product. Ecological spray drift mitigation will have a starting distance for a buffer or setback. Each mitigation measure allowed by the label will reduce that starting distance by a specific percentage. Depending on the level of mitigation implemented, buffer distances may be reduced — and in some cases to 0 feet — if the cumulative mitigation credits meet or exceed the required threshold.

Understanding and implementing these practices helps maintain compliance, reduce off-target movement, protect threatened and endangered species, their habitats, and other non-target plants and animals, and ensures continued access to essential row-crop protection products. This list is not exhaustive, and as new products are introduced or re-evaluated during registration renewal, they may include updated ESA-specific language and additional mitigation requirements.”