July 23, 2020

US appeals court allows Corteva weed killer sale

The US appeals court permitted the sale of Corteva's Enlist Duo weed killer, giving the company an advantage after Bayer owned dicamba-based herbicides were banned recently, Reuters reported.

Both Corteva and Bayer compete for seeds and chemical sales in the US soybean market worth US$40 billion.

Enlist Duo is made of 2,4-D choline and glyphosate to be used on soybeans, corn and cotton plants made to resist the product.

The appeals court overruled a claim by environmental groups that Corteva's Enlist Duo volatility was not considered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The three-judge panel said the agency depended on studies to show that 2,4-D choline salt does not harm the environment.

In June, the court ruled that the EPA understated the risks of dicamba-use. The chemical is used in herbicides produced by Bayer, Corteva and BASF SE.

Seed dealers and farmers said farmers would shift to Corteva's Enlist E3 soybean seeds over Bayer produced Xtend soybean seeds that are resistant to dicamba.

-      Reuters