LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- A state circuit court in Missouri on Wednesday granted preliminary approval to Bayer's proposed $7.3 billion national settlement in Roundup cancer litigation, according to a court order.

The order from the Missouri Circuit Court 22nd Judicial Circuit in St. Louis triggers a nationwide notice program and sets a July 9, 2026, fairness hearing. It requires Bayer to deposit $500 million into the settlement fund within 10 business days.

Christopher A. Seeger, the proposed class counsel for the glyphosate-based Roundup settlement, said in a statement the settlement will be good for all parties involved.

"Today's ruling is an important step for Roundup cancer victims who have been waiting more than a decade for a just resolution," he said.

"This settlement was reached amid the threat of a Supreme Court ruling that could eliminate their claims entirely and a potential Monsanto bankruptcy that would leave claimants with nothing. It represents the best path to compensation for all plaintiffs and we look forward to working with the court and all stakeholders to address concerns and see this through to final approval."

Bayer announced the settlement on Feb. 17, 2026, to benefit current and future non-Hodgkin lymphoma injury claims against Roundup, to include a long-term claims program.

In the past two weeks, Bayer also filed its opening brief in the Supreme Court case Durnell v. Monsanto, set for oral argument on April 27, 2026.

Bill Dodero, senior vice president and general counsel for Bayer, said the settlement and pending Supreme Court case are both important steps for the company.

"The proposed class, combined with Supreme Court review in Durnell, are independently necessary and mutually reinforcing steps in the company's multipronged strategy to significantly contain the Roundup litigation," Dodero said.

Bayer said in a news release on Wednesday, the "expectation of Supreme Court review of the cross-cutting question in this litigation -- whether state claims based on failure-to-warn theories are preempted by federal law -- helped make this settlement possible."

In addition, Bayer said the Supreme Court case is "unaffected" by the settlement and is "critical to resolving substantial outstanding damage awards" subject to pending appeals, which are not covered by the settlement.

"The Supreme Court case is also critical to resolving the regulatory uncertainty which jeopardizes the availability of current and future agricultural innovations, with potentially severe consequences for farmers and the American food system," Bayer said.

The next step in the settlement involves notice to potential class members and a 90-day period ending on June 4, during which members of the class can opt out or file objections.

Once the next phase is complete, Bayer said the court will consider granting final approval after the July 9 fairness hearing. The settlement is then subject to potential appeals.

All Roundup lawsuits in Missouri brought by class settlement members are stayed, except for opt-outs, until the court reaches a final judgment on the class settlement, according to Bayer.

Read more on DTN:

"Bayer Settles Roundup Cases for $7.3B," https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

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