MAHA Report Raises Alarm in U.S. Ag Sector
Slice of Agriculture Team
May 29, 2025
Key highlights
- MAHA Commission report challenges pesticide safety despite decades of scientific validation.
- Ag leaders emphasize EPA’s rigorous pesticide review process and economic risks of restrictions.
- Potential policy changes could jeopardize U.S. food security, raise costs, and reduce yields.
Notable Quotes
“ Crop protection tools are not only safe, they are essential to food security, affordability, and the survival of family farms all across this country. ”
Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Executive Director at Modern Ag Alliance
“ Restricting access to safe, effective crop protection tools would have ripple effects across the entire food supply chain—from seed to shelf. ”
Melinda Witten, President and CEO at Ohio AgriBusiness Association
“ Agriculture is a science, and we have spent years testing and researching pesticides, like glyphosate, to reaffirm that they are a safe and vital tool farmers rely on to feed and fuel the world. ”
Jolene Riessen, Chair at Iowa Corn Growers Association
Why This Matters
The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission's recent report has triggered alarm throughout the agricultural sector by questioning the safety of pesticides long validated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and international health authorities. Industry leaders fear the report could guide future policies that severely restrict access to these tools, undermining food production efficiency, economic stability, and environmental sustainability.
Farmers rely on crop protection tools like glyphosate not just for yield maximization, but for enabling conservation practices such as no-till farming. The loss of these tools could lead to a surge in input costs, decreased productivity, and heightened food inflation—repercussions felt across every layer of the food supply chain.
In a unified message, agricultural leaders across the country urge policymakers to prioritize science over rhetoric and innovation over ideology to preserve America’s food security and competitive agricultural advantage.
