BREAKING NEWS: BAYER AG, FORMERLY MONSANTO COMPANY, AGREES TO $400 MILLION SETTLEMENT OF DICAMBA DRIFT LITIGATION ALLEGING DAMAGE TO SOYBEAN CROPS FROM OFF-TARGET MOVEMENT OF DICAMBA HERBICIDES.

Under the settlement, Bayer will pay up to $400 million to resolve claims alleging the dicamba herbicides volitalized and drifted to neighboring fields, harming vulnerable soybean crops. Eligible soybean farmers may make damage claims for the 2015 through 2020 growing seasons.

To qualify for a settlement payment, eligible Claimants must complete a claim form and provide documentary evidence of their dicamba-related crop damage for a growing season(s) from 2015 to 2020. If you suffered financial loss because your soybean crops were damaged by off-target movement of dicamba, and you want to share in the settlement fund, you must file a claim in the settlement by the May 28, 2021 Claims Package Deadline.

WHAT IS DICAMBA?

Dicamba, a growth regulating herbicide, is selectively used against invasive broadleaf plants such as Palmer amaranth, more commonly known as pigweed. Pigweed is a common nuisance in the farming industry, and soybeans in particular are taking the brunt of the infestation.

Thousands of farmers have turned to herbicides like dicamba to control the spread of these noxious weeds. Dicamba is a volatile herbicide, meaning it can vaporize and spread beyond the fields targeted by applicators. This volatilization is what farmers claim is harming their crops.

Brand names for dicamba include:

Variations of dicamba were given regulatory approval by the Environmental Protection Agency based on a claimed lower volatility rate than prior technologies. Despite the new formula having reduced volatility, experts cannot unequivocally say the formula will prevent the spread of dicamba to neighboring crops.

WHERE HAS DICAMBA DAMAGE OCCURRED?

Dicamba damage has occurred in several states, but the damage has been most severe in:

WHAT DOES DICAMBA CROP DAMAGE LOOK LIKE?

Crop damage usually appears within days of the application of the dicamba herbicide, but some damage can take weeks to appear.

Symptoms of dicamba damage can include:

The deadline to submit a claim is May 28, 2021. Eligible claimants will have to start the claims process immediately.