The Associated Press reports that the first of literally tens of thousands of lawsuits against Syngenta has been delayed until July. The suits accuse the Swiss agribusiness company of introducing a genetically engineered corn variety before China had approved it for imports, thereby causing farmers economic harm. The case was supposed to go to trial last week in a Minnesota court. Attorney Lew Remele (Rem’-uh-lee) said the court had already picked a jury in late April. The judge decided to restart the process because some of the jurors had claimed financial hardship if they heard the case. He says the juror notification requirements and scheduling conflicts means a delay until July tenth. That delay will mean the first case up will get tried in a Kansas City federal court on July fifth. Approximately 60,000 cases have been filed in Minnesota alone. The suits accuse Syngenta of wrecking China as an export market for U.S. corn farmers. Syngenta denies it’s caused farmers any financial losses.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.