What is the Alleged Problem with Dicamba?

In order to combat the problem of Roundup-resistant “super weeds,” manufacturers developed new strains of soybeans and cotton that would be resistant to dicamba. However, the EPA had serious concerns about the proposed new uses for dicamba, which had long been known to be highly volatile and uncontrollable.  The EPA delayed approval of the new dicamba formulations for several years, due to its concerns about the chemical’s propensity for off-site movement and the significant harm that it might pose to farmers and neighboring landowners. It approved three new formulations of dicamba for the 2017 growing season, which were supposedly less likely to be harmful than prior versions of dicamba:

• XtendiMax by Monsanto
• Engenia by BASF
• Fexapan by Dupont

However, these dicamba formulations were introduced to the market without independent rigorous testing. “As a result, millions of acres of farmland have been damaged in a real life science experiment conducted by Monsanto and the other manufacturers of dicamba at the farmers’ expense,” Peiffer Wolf attorney Paul Lesko stated. Dicamba was approved for over-the-top application in November, 2016; this resulted in a marked increase in dicamba utilization, leading to estimated damages of millions of acres of non-target plants and crops.

Bayer has agreed to pay up to $400 million to settle dicamba crop damage cases. Anyone with suspected dicamba crop damage since 2015 should contact us by filling out a Contact Form or by calling 314-669-3600 for a FREE Consultation.

Dicamba Crop & Plant Damage

There have been reports of dicamba damaging crops and plants in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. It is estimated that approximately 3.1 million acres of soybeans have been damaged by dicamba already.

Through surveys of state departments of agriculture, the findings identify at least 2,242 official investigations into dicamba damage nationwide, as of August 10, 2017. Estimates from state extension weed scientists, meanwhile, show suspected dicamba damage has affected at least 3.1 million acres of soybeans overall — an area approaching the size of Connecticut.

There have been a record number of complaints about off-target dicamba movement in multiple States. In Arkansas alone, there have been at least 876 complaints made by farmers to the Arkansas Plant Board. Arkansas and Missouri enacted bans on the use of dicamba, and several other States added additional restrictions in the middle of the growing season.  Additionally, valuable crops like tomatoes, tobacco, melons, pumpkins, and fruits have also been damaged by dicamba, as well as standing timber and ornamentals.

Farmers & Landowners Seek Justice Through Lawsuits

While local authorities have leveled some fines against farmers who misuse dicamba, these fines often run from just $200 to $1,000—a meager number that pales in comparison to the damage done by dicamba misuse. In some cases, the culpable party just received a warning. According to Modern Farmer, farmers impacted by dicamba will lose an estimated 10 to 30 percent of their annual crop yield. Experts estimate that dicamba has already adversely affected more than 3 million acres of farmland.

Because these fines are so minimal, and because Monsanto, BASF and DuPont are unlikely to face criminal charges, many farmers in Arkansas and neighboring states have filed lawsuits seeking restitution for the damage done to their crops or reduced crop yields.  These lawsuits are not aimed against their neighboring farmers, but rather herbicide manufacturers like Monsanto, DuPont, and BASF.

Bayer has agreed to pay up to $400 million to settle dicamba crop damage cases. Anyone with suspected dicamba crop damage since 2015 should contact us by filling out a Contact Form or by calling 314-669-3600 for a FREE Consultation.

Signs of Dicamba Crop & Plant Damage

According to the Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory, signs of dicamba plant & crop damage may include:

• Twisted leaves
• Upward cupping on leaves
• Narrow, strap-like leaves on the youngest growth
• Aboveground roots on the stems of some annual flowers

The Purdue laboratory notes that these types of herbicide are “quite prone to drift and volatilization.” Its report also emphasizes that several other culprits can cause similar types of damage, so be sure to rule out the following potential causes before determining that dicamba is responsible:

• Mite, insect, or disease damage
• Adverse weather
• Soil compaction
• Drought
• Root stress
• Improper soil pH
• Misapplied fertilizers
• Genetic mutations
• Road salt

Dicamba Lawsuit Eligibility

To qualify for a dicamba lawsuit, you must be a farmer or landowner whose crop yield has suffered losses because of dicamba. Dicamba herbicides include:

• Monsanto’s XtendiMax
• DuPont’s FeXapen
• BASF’s Engenia

Dicamba Lawsuits | Free Consultation

Anyone with suspected dicamba crop damage since 2015 should contact us by filling out a Contact Form or by calling 314-669-3600 for a FREE Consultation.