Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Senate Ag Committee has approved a bill that gives some liability protection to farm chemical companies, including Bayer, which makes the widely used weed killer Roundup.
Senator Jeff Edler, a Republican from State Center, who’s a farmer, says in 2020 the E-P-A determined the main ingredient in Roundup is not a carcinogen.
Senator Dan Zumbach, a Republican from Ryan who’s a farmer, says companies like Bayer will stop developing and improving farm chemicals if their legal exposure grows.
Democrats on the committee opposed the bill. Senator William Dotzler (DOTS-ler) is a Democrat from Waterloo.
Senator Nate Boulton, a Democrat from Des Moines, says he’s siding with farmers who contend they’ve contracted cancer from exposure to farm chemicals rather than a company concerned about profit margins.
A similar bill was introduced in the Iowa House, but failed to pass a key committee by Friday’s deadline.
