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
This Firm to Farm blog post by farm legal and taxation expert Roger McEowen of the Washburn School of Law discusses the Small Tracts Act and resolving issues with the US Forest Service.
Farm legal and taxation expert Roger McEowen discusses the rise of drone technology in agriculture and how the ”plain view” doctrine could inform future regulatory law and insurance inspections of farmland.
“We can finally put into place rules that will have some staying power, which will give certainty to landowners across the country.”
The late Barbara Mazurek is the definition of a FarmHER.
Farm legal and taxation expert Roger McEowen discusses tariffs’ impacts on agriculture, deferred payment contracts, tax easement issues, and the rise in warrantless searches on farms and ranches.