Bayer CropScience Files Suit to Defend Imidacloprid on Fertilizer Patent

Bayer CropScience filed a lawsuit against NuFarm  Americas Inc., Burr Ridge, Ill., and Vogel Seed & Fertilizer, Inc., d/b/a Spring Valley, Jackson, Wis., for infringement of Bayer’s patented use of the pesticide imidacloprid on fertilizer, U.S. Patent No. 5,783,203.

Bayer invented the novel mixture of imidacloprid on fertilizer, sold as the brand name product Merit Plus Turf Fertilizer; and users have enjoyed its benefits for over 10 years. This patented technology revolutionized insect control on lawns and golf courses while providing significant application convenience to users.

Filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the suit seeks to halt NuFarm’s and Spring Valley’s joint actions to formulate and sell imidacloprid on fertilizer. Bayer contends these actions violate the Bayer-owned patent and seeks to have the court uphold its patented uses.

Research efforts from companies like Bayer CropScience are based on a foundation of respect for intellectual property rights, which enables significant investments in order to generate future technical innovations.

Bayer Environmental Science, a business group of Bayer CropScience, is a leader in environmental science and provides innovative products to professionals and consumers for turf and ornamentals, termite control, general insect control and vector control applications.