Missouri Court Grants Preliminary Approval for $7.3 Billion Nationwide Roundup Settlement

A state court in Missouri has granted preliminary approval to a proposed U.S, nationwide class action settlement to resolve all current and future claims against Roundup™. Bayer has proposed a $7.3 billion national settlement.

Brian Naber, President for the North America, Australia, and New Zealand Region for Bayer Crop Science and a member of the Global Executive Leadership Team, says finding a resolution is important. “On one side, this is an issue that we said we would get contained in 2026,” he says. “That is important because then that allows us to contain this and go back to what we do best, which is focus on innovation for farmers.”

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court announced it would review the Durnell Roundup case which could provide regulatory clarity. The Supreme Court ruling on the Durnell case will decide whether federal pesticide law (FIFRA) overrides state failure‑to‑warn claims regarding Roundup’s labeling when the EPA did not require a cancer warning.

Naber says the EPA approval is the gold standard for science and it’s critical in ensuring companies like Bayer can continue to innovate. “They are the regulator of crop protection products,” he says. “And when they approve a product, only to then come back into the states and have lawsuits against you for claims like failure to warn is not a place that innovators can be in U.S. agriculture.”

The next stage of the process for the class action settlement includes notifying potential class members and initiating a 90-day opt-out and objection period that will run through June 4^th.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

Bayer, since acquiring Monsanto, the original producer of Roundup, has been inundated with legal challenges regarding the efficacy of the product and purported carcinogenic effects. Courts have already ruled in several cases that the company is in fact liable for any damages or claims against Roundup. Some courts have dismissed such cases in favor of Bayer. EPA has said all along that Roundup is non-cancer causing. So, what is the correct resolution to these differing opinions? It appears that Bayer is willing to provide a lump sum fund to put the matter to rest once and for all. Will higher courts agree? We’ll soon learn that answer!

You have a great way to protect your customers – it’s called CAD Protect. When OEM warranties fail to cover trucks used on the farm or ranch, CAD Protect is the answer. It is specifically designed to cover farm and ranch use. Be sure to offer it when selling a truck to your farmer or rancher customers – they will benefit and so can you.