The president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and farmer leaders from 19 state-based corn grower groups sent a letter to President Trump today asking him to intervene as the Make America Healthy Again Commission prepares to release policy recommendations that question the safety of pesticides that have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Our alarm stems from the initial assessment, released in May, which raised pesticide safety questions that have already been answered repeatedly over the decades by research and regulatory agencies,” the letter said. “If such language is included in the policy recommendations, it could significantly hamper the work of America’s farmers and raise prices on consumers without providing any additional layer of safety for the American public.”
The letter is notable because of the president’s popularity among farmers and rural Americans and comes as corn growers express concerns about the aggregate effects of tariffs, low corn prices and rising input costs. A loss of critical production tools would be another blow at an already difficult time.
Today’s letter zeroed in on the specific effect the recommendations could have on growers.
“If the pesticides in the original report were to disappear completely, crop yields could decrease by more than 70% due to pests, weeds and disease,” the grower leaders noted.
The EPA is exacting in its review process of pesticides, the letter explained.
“Every pesticide approved for use must submit dozens, if not hundreds, of test results for EPA review and consideration, including tests examining potential effects on child development, dietary exposure, and long-term toxicity,” the letter noted. “The EPA’s reviews, required by law, are repeated at least every 15 years, or sooner if new data become available.”
The corn grower leaders said they were happy administration members have met with them recently but also said more needs to be done.
“While we appreciate that members of your administration have met with agricultural groups and leaders in recent weeks, our farmers remain deeply troubled,” the signatories noted. “The initial assessment and a long list of unfounded statements that key architects of the MAHA report have repeated, are prime fodder for trial attorneys seeking to profit and protectionist trading partners who are determined to erect barriers to American agricultural products.”
The administration is expected to release the strategy document in August. The letter is the latest in a series of actions by the nation’s corn growers to express their concerns about MAHA’s efforts.
SOURCE: NCGA News Release
