Ag groups question report claims

WASHINGTON — A report questioning farmers’ use of crop protection tools drew concerns the federal government could take a position to restrict access to agricultural inputs.

The Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment was released May 22, noting contributing factors to childhood chronic diseases.

The report made several references to the children’s exposure aggregation of environmental chemicals, some of which “are linked to developmental issues and chronic disease.”

“The cumulative load of thousands of synthetic chemicals that our children are exposed to through the food they eat, the water they drink and the air they breathe may pose risks to their long-term health, including neurodevelopmental and endocrine effects,” the report said.

The assessment stated:

• Over 40,000 chemicals are registered for use in the United States.

• Pesticides, microplastics and dioxins are commonly found in the blood and urine of American children and pregnant women — some at alarming levels.

• Children are particularly vulnerable to chemicals during critical stages of development — in utero, infancy, early childhood and puberty. Research suggests that for some chemicals, this cumulative load of exposures may be driving higher rates of chronic childhood disease.

The report referred to crop protection tools, including pesticides, herbicides and insecticides.

“Some studies have raised concerns about possible links between some of these products and adverse health outcomes, especially in children, but human studies are limited. For example, a selection of research studies on a herbicide (glyphosate) have noted a range of possible health effects, ranging from reproductive and developmental disorders, as well as cancers, liver inflammation and metabolic disturbances,” according to the report.

“In experimental animal and wildlife studies, exposure to another herbicide (atrazine) can cause endocrine disruption and birth defects. Common exposures include lawn care, farming and pesticide residues; however, a large-scale FDA study of pesticide residues (from 2009 to 2017) found the majority of samples (more than 90%) were compliant with federal standards. More recent data from the USDA’s Pesticide Data Program found that 99% of food samples tested in 2023 were compliant with EPA’s safety limit.

“Federal government reviews of epidemiologic data for the most common herbicide did not establish a direct link between use according to label directions and adverse health outcomes, and an updated U.S. government health assessment on common herbicides is expected in 2026.”

Comments

“The report is filled with fear-based rather than science-based information about pesticides. We are deeply troubled that claims of this magnitude are being made without any scientific basis or regard for a long history of EPA expert evaluations of these products. Decades of extensive research and testing show that pesticides, including atrazine and glyphosate, can be applied safely for their intended uses. If the administration’s goal is to bring more efficiency to government, then why is the secretary of Health and Human Services duplicating efforts by raising questions about pesticides that have been answered repeatedly through research and reviews by federal regulatory bodies? We call on the administration to respect the existing body of science on pesticides and, moving forward, to include America’s farmers in discussion as this process evolves.”

National Corn Growers Association

“We have serious concerns over the assessment’s allegations about pesticides. The report includes statements that do not reflect the wealth of evidence developed over decades by federal agencies such as the EPA and USDA on the safety of crop inputs and food production methods. These institutions have consistently reaffirmed the safety and efficacy of the systems that help feed our country and the world. We note that the report acknowledges in many areas the vital role that farmers, ranchers, cooperatives and agribusinesses play in ensuring a safe, nutritious and affordable food supply. In particular, we appreciate the focus on the importance of fruits and vegetables and dairy products as nutritious foods that promote good health. As the commission continues its work, however, we urge them to recognize that many forms of fruit and vegetables, including frozen, dried and canned, confer the same benefits. As this process moves forward, we hope future discussions will be more transparent, balanced and inclusive of the full scope of facts and perspectives that define American agriculture.”

Chuck Conner, president

National Council for Farmer Cooperatives

“NFU appreciates the attention the White House brings to the health and well-being of America’s children. We agree that addressing chronic disease, nutrition and environmental exposures must be grounded in sound science, transparency and a commitment to public health. Farmers and ranchers live, work and raise their families on the same land where they grow the safe, nutritious food that feeds our nation and the world. Policy solutions must ensure family farmers retain the tools they need to support their livelihoods and the well-being of their communities. Innovation has long been a cornerstone of American agriculture, and we must be cautious not to stymie progress with one-size-fits-all restrictions. The report rightly highlights the threat of corporate consolidation in our food and agriculture system. As small and mid-sized farmers are pushed out, diversity in farming, local food systems and rural economies decline. Improving health outcomes must go hand in hand with restoring fairness and competition. We stand ready to work with the administration on meaningful solutions to this longstanding issue. Farmers are key partners in building a healthier food system. But meaningful progress requires that farmers have a seat at the table. Disregarding the expertise of respected regulatory bodies and leaving farmers out of the conversation undermines public trust and puts the future of American agriculture and rural economies at risk. We urge the administration to include the voices of family farmers and ranchers as they continue this work and to ensure that solutions are rooted in sound science, fairness and transparency.”

Rob Larew, president

National Farmers Union

“It is deeply troubling for the White House to endorse a report that sows seeds of doubt and fear about our food system and farming practices, then attempts to celebrate farmers and the critical role they play in producing the safest food supply in the world. Farmers are identified as ‘critical partners,’ yet were excluded from development of the report, despite many requests for a seat at the table. The report also expresses a desire to ensure farmers continue to thrive, but undermining confidence in our food system directly contradicts that noble goal. The report spotlights outlier studies and presents unproven theories that feed a false narrative and only then does it acknowledge a mountain of evidence about the safety of our food system. We suspect USDA had a prominent role in the report’s recognition that farmers are the critical first step in the food system, but as a whole, the report falls short. The American people were promised transparency yet presented with a report developed in secret. As a farmer myself, I can confidently say that farmers and ranchers share the goal of improving health outcomes in America. They’re dedicated to continuous improvement, guided by sound science and technological advances. We are carefully examining the nearly 70 pages of contradictory assertions and look forward to further discussions with administration officials. President Trump has voiced his trust in farmers many times and we urge him to ensure a transparent process going forward with farmers at the table and sound science — not emotionally charged rhetoric — guiding the conversation.”

Zippy Duvall, president

American Farm Bureau Federation

“Both farmers and members of Congress tried to warn the administration that activist groups were trying to hijack the MAHA Commission to advance their longstanding goal of harming U.S. farmers. Reading this report, it appears that is exactly what has happened. MAHA’s misleading report suggests glyphosate, atrazine and other pesticides essential to farmers are potential contributors to health ailments. Activist organizations and trial lawyers are already engaged in baseless lawfare on pesticides. By bizarrely, without reason singling out two specific pesticides, the administration has offered activists a gift on a silver platter. Those groups will be poised to use the report to advance litigation aimed at taking away these tools American farmers use safely and effectively to produce our food. It is sad — and downright unjust — that, because of this one unfounded report, those decisions likely will be made by a judge and the court of public opinion instead of the regulatory system created for these very decisions and based on years and reams of credible science and research.”

Alan Meadows, director

American Soybean Association