With growing season nearing, concerns rise over more potential dicamba damage as Missouri lawsuit proceeds

Soybean plants damaged by dicamba herbicide drift. Image: Mark Loux/ Ohio State University Extension)
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Eyes on wide swaths of the nation’s farmland are sure to look out for continued damage from dicamba – divisive weed killer blamed for damaging millions of acres of soybeans and other plants over the last couple years.

But much attention will also be on a Missouri courtroom, where Creve Coeur, Mo.-based biotech giant, Monsanto, is facing off in a proposed class action lawsuit with farmers who allege they were harmed by the hard-to-control herbicide notorious for its tendency to evaporate – or volatize – and move to other nearby areas.

Senath, Mo.-based Cow-Mil Farms, Inc., in its lawsuit alleges that reported dicamba damage has been both a predictable and profitable result of Monsanto’s rollout of the Xtend product package.

Citing both farmers and weed scientists, other arguments outlined in the complaint include allegations that Monsanto sales representatives privately condoned unauthorized use of the herbicide….

Monsanto, meanwhile, steadfastly denies that it is liable for any damages alleged in the cases.

Particularly when it comes to damage linked to older, illegal versions of dicamba, the company notes in court filings that it did not manufacture, distribute or sell the herbicides in question.

Read full, original post: Monsanto stays on the defense on dicamba as class action fight moves forward

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