Monsanto agent urges large assessment cut for Luling plant; assessor, council say evidence falls short

An agent for Monsanto Company asked the St. Charles Parish Council, sitting as the board of review on Oct. 6, to lower the taxed value of Monsanto’s Luling chemical plant by citing ‘‘economic obsolescence’’ tied to overseas competition and litigation. Assessor Troxler told the council the evidence provided so far does not meet the burden needed to justify the reduction.

The appeal, filed as part of the board of review hearing, centered on the plant’s production of glyphosate and the effect of lower market prices and ongoing litigation. Richard Griffin, who identified himself as the agent for Monsanto and gave a Round Rock, Texas, address, told the council that market forces and legal exposure had reduced the site’s economic prospects. "The prices for that have fallen almost 50% while our costs to produce have increased by 26%," Griffin said. He also said litigation has been widespread: "There’s been 93 thousand cases against Monsanto and Bayer ... 67,000 cases are still…