Deadline Arrives For Rice Growers To File Claims
(AP) - A deadline to sign on to a $750 million settlement proposed by Bayer CropScience has arrived for rice growers who lost sales after genetically modified rice seed mistakenly entered the U.S. market.
Monday was the last day for farmers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas who sued the German conglomerate to submit claims for part of the settlement. The farmers took Bayer CropScience to court after the modified strain of long-grain rice escaped from a test plot in 2006. Bayer CropScience offered the settlement in July, but required claims from growers representing 85 percent of the average acres planted from 2006 to 2009.
Bayer spokesman Greg Coffey said Monday officials don't know whether the 85-percent threshold was met, but Coffey says the company's hopeful that it was.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.