"LA MOTTE, Iowa - Ray Bickel spent over a decade driving a truck through giant corn and soybean fields in Clinton County, Iowa, applying pesticides. He says it was good work, while it lasted.

In 2017, he had a heart attack. The doctors ran tests to find out what caused it and found something else. “He was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which is blood and bone marrow cancer. And he was diagnosed with stage three rectal cancer,” his wife, Margarette Bickel, said.

Doctors suggested it could be because of his years working with Roundup, a widely-used herbicide. Now he is one of many farmers suing the maker, Monsanto, which is owned by Bayer.

“It was a very successful chemical,” Ray Bickel said, claiming it did the job — controlling weeds and producing good crops. “It worked well for the farmers. I actually liked to spray it.”"

Estefanía Pinto Ruiz reports for KWQC May 21, 2025. [2]