Monsanto, BASF weed killers strain U.S. states with damage complaints

[sandensea]

Source: Reuters

U.S. farmers have overwhelmed state governments with thousands of complaints about crop damage linked to new versions of weed killers, threatening future sales by manufacturers Monsanto and BASF SE.

Monsanto is banking on weed killers using a chemical known as dicamba - and seeds engineered to resist it - to dominate soybean production in the United States, the world’s second-largest exporter.

The United States has faced a weed-killer crisis this year caused by the new formulations of dicamba-based herbicides, which farmers and weed experts say have harmed crops because they evaporate and drift away from where they are applied.

Monsanto and BASF say the herbicides are safe when properly applied. They need to convince regulators after the flood of complaints to state agriculture departments.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pesticides-complaints/monsanto-basf-weed-killers-strain-u-s-states-with-damage-complaints-idUSKBN1D14N0

[benld74]

1. Missouri is one state

Stlposttoday ran article stating as much

[sandensea]

3. I can imagine.

Sorry to hear that. Here's hoping farmers themselves see the corner they're painting themselves into.

[lagomorph777]

2. You are brave to post this.

K&R.

[sandensea]

4. Thank you!

No progressive - or any other loyal American, for that matter - should be carrying water for the likes of Monsatan.

[PatSeg]

5. That's for sure

You'd think that would be a given on a progressive site, but just the mention of the name "Monsanto" brings out the most extraordinary apologists.

Thanks for posting!

[sandensea]

7. You're welcome, PatSeg.

Just one look at the horrors that Monsatan products have visited in some agrarian countries like India and Argentina shows that we in the U.S. would do well to look at them as canaries in the coal mine for what we could expect if they keep buying out statehouse politicians.

We really need to start looking at our food security as part and parcel of national security.

[PatSeg]

9. I think the damage done to the planet

and all livings things on it is probably beyond comprehension at this point. Yet when informed people protest Monsanto's activities, they are called anti-science by Monsanto advocates who in turn post a lot of scripted comments meant to demean and ridicule anyone who disagrees with them.

Just because something is a product of science, doesn't necessarily mean it is good for us. Nuclear weapons, Agent Orange, DDT, thalidomide, lead paint, etc. Meanwhile, Monsanto has a terrible track record over the years.

[sandensea]

10. They don't call'em Monsatan for nothing.

And who bought them out recently? Why, Bayer (the erstwhile IGFarben), of course.

[PatSeg]

11. They just get bigger

Never better.

[benld74]

6. I know people affected from all 4 sides of this Mosanto cludgery

Farmers who used
Farmers who didn't use, but had crops affected

People who work for Monsanto for years who gave Monsanto products as prizes in local school fund raising functions

People who work for Monsanto as Monsanto lawyers. WHAT they protect for Monsanto is not known.

[sandensea]

8. Forethought of malice, among other things.

They know that what they're doing is a high-tech salting the earth, as it were. The fact that Bayer - the IGFarben spinoff - bought them out recently, should only add to one's suspicions as to their long-term intentions.