A process for the preparation of a 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(substituted)picolinate of the Formula I wherein R represents C 1 -C 4 alkyl, cyclopropyl, C 2 -C 4 alkenyl or phenyl substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy or C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy; and R 1 represents C 1 -C 12 alkyl or an unsubstituted or substituted C 7 -C 11 arylalkyl; which comprises the following steps: a) fluorinating 3,4,5,6-tetrachloropicolinonitrile (Formula A) with a source of fluoride ion to produce 3-chloro-4,5,6-trifluoropicolinonitrile (Formula B) b) aminating 3-chloro-4,5,6-trifluoropicolinonitrile (Formula B) with ammonia to produce 4-amino-3-chloro-5,6-difluoropicolinonitrile (Formula C) c) reacting the fluoro substituent in the 6-position of 4-amino-3-chloro-5,6-difluoropicolinonitrile (Formula C) with hydrazine to produce 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-hydrazinopicolinonitrile (Formula D) d) halogenating 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-hydrazinopicolinonitrile (Formula D) with a chlorine, bromine or iodine source to produce a 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-halo-picolinonitrile of Formula E wherein L is Br, Cl or I; e) hydrolyzing and esterifying the 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-halopicolinonitrile of Formula E with a strong acid and an alcohol (R 1 OH) to produce a 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-halopicolinate of Formula F wherein L and R 1, are as previously defined; and f) coupling the 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-halopicolinate of Formula F with an aryl, alkyl or alkenyl metal compound of the Formula G R-Met G wherein R is as previously defined and Met represents, Zn-halide, Zn-R, tri-(C 1 -C 4 alkyl)tin, copper, or B(OR 2)(OR 3), where R 2 and R 3 are independent of one another, hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, or when taken together form an ethylene or propylene group in the presence of a transition metal catalyst to produce the 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(substituted)picolinate of Formula I. R represents C 1 -C 4 alkyl, cyclopropyl, C 2 -C 4 alkenyl or phenyl substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents independently selected from halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy or C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy; and R 1 represents C 1 -C 12 alkyl or an unsubstituted or substituted C 7 -C 11 arylalkyl; which comprises the following steps: a) fluorinating 3,4,5,6-tetrachloropicolinonitrile (Formula A) with a source of fluoride ion to produce 3-chloro-4,5,6-trifluoropicolinonitrile (Formula B) a) fluorinating 3,4,5,6-tetrachloropicolinonitrile (Formula A) b) aminating 3-chloro-4,5,6-trifluoropicolinonitrile (Formula B) with ammonia to produce 4-amino-3-chloro-5,6-difluoropicolinonitrile (Formula C) c) reacting the fluoro substituent in the 6-position of 4-amino-3-chloro-5,6-difluoropicolinonitrile (Formula C) with hydrazine to produce 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-hydrazinopicolinonitrile (Formula D) d) halogenating 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-hydrazinopicolinonitrile (Formula D) with a chlorine, bromine or iodine source to produce a 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-halo-picolinonitrile of Formula E wherein L is Br, Cl or I; e) hydrolyzing and esterifying the 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-halopicolinonitrile of Formula E with a strong acid and an alcohol (R 1 OH) to produce a 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-halopicolinate of Formula F wherein L and R 1, are as previously defined; and f) coupling the 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-halopicolinate of Formula F with an aryl, alkyl or alkenyl metal compound of the Formula G R-Met G wherein R is as previously defined and Met represents, Zn-halide, Zn-R, tri-(C 1 -C 4 alkyl)tin, copper, or B(OR 2)(OR 3), where R 2 and R 3 are independent of one another, hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, or when taken together form an ethylene or propylene group in the presence of a transition metal catalyst to produce the 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(substituted)picolinate of Formula I.