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.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Iowa Ag Secretary Naig recaps discussions surrounding a potential federal aid package for farmers and shares insights on producer sentiment in the Heartland.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, President of the University of Nebraska, joined RFD-TV to discuss coping strategies for those aching joints.
FarmHER Katey Jo Evans of The Frozen Farmer joins us for a sneak peek of the latest episode of Dirt Diaries: The FarmHER + RanchHER Podcast.
Winter weather will challenge livestock producers working to rebuild their herds despite harsh conditions.
As we gear up for the big event, Team BUBBA’s Brent Chapman of Kansas joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to talk preparation, teamwork, and the state of competitive bass fishing.
House lawmakers are expected to vote late this afternoon to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The bill they are voting on includes some big priorities for Rural America.