A picolinic acid derivative having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkali metal atom, an alkaline earth metal atom, an alkylammonium group or ##STR2## [wherein R.sup.11 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, R.sup.12 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, a cyano group, a halogen atom, an acetyl group, a pivaloyl group, a benzoyl group, an alkoxy group, a phenoxy group, a halogenoacetyloxy group, a methylsulfonyloxy group, a hydroxyl group, an alkylthio group, an alkylsulfonyl group, a phenylthio group, a dialkylamino group, a naphthyl group, a pyridyl group, ##STR3## (wherein W is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a phenoxy group, a nitro group or an alkoxycarbonyl group, and e is 1 or 2) or ##STR4## (wherein each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 which may be the same or different, is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group or a phenyl group), and m is an integer of from 0 to 2], each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 which may be the same or different, is a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group or a lower haloalkoxy group, X is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a lower alkyl group, Z is a methine group or a nitrogen atom, and n is 0 or 1, or a salt thereof.