By Madelyn Derks, ASA Director of Government Affairs
While picking up some groceries, I noticed the label “glyphosate-free” on several packaged goods, namely, an avocado oil spray. I was instantly annoyed by the misleading nature of this label, but it reminded me that for some
consumers, this branding is an indication of “safe” or “healthy” for themselves and their families. Meanwhile, for the American farmer, pesticides like glyphosate represent an essential step in producing a healthy yield and protecting their crops from destructive pests and weeds. With farmers well into the spring planting season, crop protection tools are at the forefront of conversations in the agriculture community. The pesticide conversation continues in Washington, D.C., as well.
On Feb. 6, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new dicamba label for over-the-top (OTT) use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton for the next two growing seasons. A new label means certainty for soybean and cotton growers who were hoping to utilize these products in 2026. This label came right in the nick of time for planting. However, several mitigation requirements like temperature restrictions and downwind buffer requirements, among others, will make it challenging for growers to effectively manage weeds during appropriate spraying times. This is why it is of the utmost importance for farmers to have access to every tool in the toolbox to decide what products work best for their operations, their land, and their crops.
Unfortunately, there are several new active ingredients and new uses for existing products that have been awaiting final approval from EPA for several weeks into months now. As input costs continue to rise, it is now more important than ever that EPA prioritize moving crop protection product registrations through approval processes in a timely manner. In fact, as farmers face rising input costs, pesticides are impacted the most by tariffs with an average effective tariff rate of 12%. When you add in the fact that the average time to market for new crop protection products has increased from 11.3 years to 12.3 years, it is increasingly concerning that the backlog at EPA appears to keep growing.
The American Soybean Association has led several advocacy efforts to ensure relevant agency officials and stakeholders understand the importance of EPA’s science and risk-based process and the need for grower certainty and access to pesticides. The disconnect on these vital issues has been most evident within the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. However, access to affordable and nutritious food for American families is a goal shared by both the MAHA strategy released in September and the American farmer. With these shared goals in mind, EPA should strive to ensure new and innovative pesticide and crop protection products are readily available to growers. Additional delays in registration approvals only put the United States further behind other countries in a time where competitiveness is everything. Pesticides are an integral part of growing a healthy and sustainable food supply, regardless of where you farm or the choices you make in the grocery store.
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