LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Monsanto asked a judge Tuesday to prevent Arkansas from enforcing a proposal going before lawmakers this week that would ban the use of a weed killer that farmers in several states have said drifts onto their crops and causes widespread damage.
The agribusiness giant asked a Pulaski County judge to issue a preliminary injunction preventing the state from banning dicamba’s use while the company challenges a prohibition approved by the Arkansas Plant Board last month. The board’s proposal, which would ban dicamba’s use from April 16 through Oct. 31, is scheduled to go before a legislative committee this week. The company also wants the judge to block enforcement of a previous rule restricting its weed killer’s use.
“Monsanto is presently losing sales every day the ban on in-crop use of dicamba herbicides remains in effect,” the Missouri-based company said in its filing. “The losses cannot be recovered in an action against the state.”
A spokeswoman for the state Agriculture Department declined to comment.
