Croplink

Soybean farmers whose fields had yield losses resulting from off-target dicamba movement in the past six years can now file claims as part of a $400-million settlement with Monsanto (now a subsidiary of Bayer).

The deadline to submit claims is May 28, 2021. Anyone with evidence of dicamba damage in soybeans occurring from the introduction of the Xtend Crop System from 2015 through 2020 is eligible to participate in the settlement -- $300 million is designated for soybean farmers, and $100 million for administrative costs. BASF was not part of the signed agreement.

Growers with non-soybean crop or plant injury in the multidistrict litigation are in the process of settling their claims separately and privately with Bayer, says Don Downing, an attorney with the St. Louis law firm, Gray, Ritter and Graham, who serves as chair of the court-appointed executive committee that negotiated the settlement.

Farmers seeking compensation will need evidence of dicamba symptomology on their soybeans and will need to produce yield records from which loss calculations can be made, he explains.

Legally acceptable documentation of dicamba symptomology could include such things as photographs, state regulatory agency reports or expert agronomist opinions or notes. Yield-loss evidence can be gleaned from field yield histories, crop insurance reports or readings from a calibrated yield monitor.

Farmers can complete the claim process on their own, hire an attorney of their choice or retain one of the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee firms to assist with putting together the claim form and supporting documentation. Submit claims at www.dicambasoybeansettlement.com, or call 855-914-4672.

**

> Follow the latest from Pamela Smith, Crops Technology Editor, by visiting the Production Blogs at dtnpf.com or following her on Twitter @PamSmithDTN.

[PF_0321]

(c) Copyright 2021 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.