Jury awards $265 million to peach grower in dicamba case

A jury has awarded $265 million in punitive damages to a Missouri peach grower who sued Bayer and BASF over damage to his orchards that he says was caused by the weedkiller dicamba drifting onto his trees.

The award Saturday came a day after the jury awarded $15 million in actual damages to Bill Bader, of Campbell.

Bader says dicamba drifted onto his peach trees from other farms.

The jury agreed with the lawsuit’s contention that Bayer and BASF committed negligence and conspired together.

Bayer’s attorneys said the company will appeal.