White House Backs Bayer in Push for SCOTUS Roundup Review

Federal lawyers submitted a brief this week backing Bayer’s argument that federal laws governing herbicides like Roundup should prevent lawsuits over the popular chemical.

WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — The White House is taking a stand with the agriculture chemical giant Bayer. Federal officials are calling on the Supreme Court to take up the company’s appeal over Roundup.

Trump Administration lawyers submitted a brief this week backing Bayer’s argument that federal laws regulating herbicides like Roundup should prevent lawsuits over the popular chemical.

Currently, U.S. officials consider Roundup and its main ingredient, glyphosate, to be safe. However, some U.S. states have filed lawsuits claiming a “failure to warn” that Roundup causes cancer.

“The support of the U.S. Government is an important step and good news for U.S. farmers, who need regulatory clarity. The stakes could not be higher as the misapplication of federal law jeopardizes the availability of innovative tools for farmers and investments in the broader U.S. economy,” said CEO Bill Anderson.

Since Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018, the company has paid around $10 billion in claims. The company’s stock jumped nearly 15% after the announcement on Tuesday, according to MarketWatch.

Related Stories
ASFMRA’s Chad Hertz joins us to discuss farmland trends, economic pressures facing producers, and how outside influences are shaping today’s land market.
“Irresponsible Lending Has No Place in Government Programs,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a press release.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold discusses the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to a South American cruise ship and Nebraska’s monitoring efforts on this week’s Rural Health Matters.
Huma Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fred Nichols joins us to discuss rising interest in carbon-based products, soil health strategies, and fertilizer cost concerns.
Current estimates indicate the federal government could be forced to return more than $150 billion to importers.
Balancing Regulatory Compliance and Economic Viability

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing now to make markets less volatile for ranchers over the long term and more affordable for consumers, according to a press release.
Elizabeth Strom with the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) joined us to share the latest on harvest progress and market activity in her area.
Lyndsey Smith with RealAg Radio discusses how global trade dynamics could shape the future of Canada’s pulse exports.
Brooks York with Agri-Sompo joined us to discuss this year’s harvest price calculations and what they could mean for producers nationwide.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, President of the University of Nebraska, joined Rural Health Matters to discuss dental care access and improvement efforts across rural America.
“Farmers for Free Trade” warns that disaster is brewing as President Trump’s trade policy is causing farm input costs to rise even more.