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German firms Bayer and BASF ordered to pay $265 million in damages
Coleman Legal LLP
Mar 17, 2020

One of Missouri’s biggest peach farmers, Bill Bader has sued Bayer and BASF. The farmer alleged that Dicamba “weed-killer” drifted onto his 1000-acre orchard from nearby fields killing his crops. In addition to this Bayer is being blamed for damages to thousands of hectares of crops in US Midwestern state Missouri.


After Bayer purchased US chemical giant Mosanto who sells Dicamba-based herbicides and another similar product in 2018 for $63 billion, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforced limitations on the use of Dicamba due to farmers concerns.

Bayer responded by saying its herbicides pose no threat when used appropriately. It said that Mosanto herbicides was “safe and valuable tools for growers.” Bayer continued saying its herbicides “do not pose any unreasonable risk of off-target movement when used according to label directions.”

The court instructed Bayer and BASF to pay Mr Bader $15 million in actual damages coupled with $250 million in fines. History reveals, this is the first ruling against the Dicamba herbicide for damages to crops.

BASF responded saying it would “use all available legal resources” to dispute the ruling made by a federal district court in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Bayer said it “clearly disagreed with the jury’s verdict and is very disappointed.” Bayer finished saying, “We will swiftly appeal the decision. While we have great empathy for any farmer who suffers from crop losses, in the case of Mr Bader, there was no competent evidence presented which showed that Monsanto’s products were present on his farm and were responsible for his losses.”

Keith Rolls Partner Coleman Legal LLP

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