Recently in agricultural news, a new corn lawsuit was filed against the agriculture seed manufacturer Syngenta alleging that the company has cost the U.S. corn industry billions of dollars in losses over the last few years.

The corn lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Jerry M. and his wife Myrna M. on Jan. 5. Jerry and Myrna explain that they work in South Dakota and their income is dependent on their ability to sell corn at the market price.

According to Jerry and Myrna’s corn lawsuit, the U.S. is responsible for 41 percent of the corn production worldwide. Corn is the largest U.S. crop in terms of volume and value. There are various types of corn grown in the U.S. such as field corn, sweet corn, and popcorn. Corn is primarily wind-pollinated and the species can pollinate across multiple variations.

Jerry and Myrna state that over 400,000 farms in the U.S. grow corn. Corn farmers in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska grow over half of the corn produced in the U.S. Once harvested corn is generally collected, commingled, and stored in grain elevators before it is shipped across the U.S. and the world. This makes it easier specific varieties of corn to cross contaminate other shipments.

Viptera is a genetically modified corn seed that was put on the market in 2011. The seed is a genetically modified strain that provides tougher defenses against corn pests such as black cutworms and corn earworms.

According to agricultural news, Syngenta released Viptera seeds into the U.S. corn market before it was approved by several important U.S. export countries. The plaintiffs allege that they have lost significant income due to Syngenta’s actions.

China is one of the important U.S. export countries that refused to approve the Viptera seed. When China discovered the Viptera seed contamination in U.S. corn shipments, it began denying all corn shipments from the U.S. to enter the country.

According to agricultural news outlets on agriculture.com, Syngenta released a statement regarding their views on the lawsuits filed against the company. Syngenta stated through its head of marketing that the company believes the Viptera seed is a safe and effective product and that the lawsuits filed against the company are without merit.

Attorneys are currently looking for potential plaintiffs to bring additional corn lawsuits against Syngenta. Plaintiffs who bring successful corn farmer lawsuits may receive compensation for the economic losses they have suffered to the release of the Viptera corn seed into the U.S. market.

Whether or not a lawsuit should be brought is a decision that should be made with careful consideration. Legal professionals can help potential plaintiffs weigh the facts and circumstances of their individual case. Lawsuits like these also help hold companies accountable for their actions and serve as a reminder that they owe consumers a specific duty of care.

If you are a corn farmer, corn distributor, are involved with corn transport, import or export or are involved with any other aspect of the corn industry and you’d like to stay up to date with legal agricultural news, you can follow TCA on social media and sign up for our weekly newsletter to have agricultural news and other legal news delivered right to your inbox.

The Syngenta Corn Lawsuit is Case No. 1:16-cv-01005-CBK , in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Northern Division.