Sign in Subscribe
Farmers

Farmers Face Higher Costs and Reduced Crop Yields if MAHA Commission Targets Pesticides

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the Make America Healthy Again Commission prepares to release its policy recommendations in August, a new survey conducted by the National Corn Growers Association reveals that American corn growers would face significant consequences if they were to lose access to key herbicides like atrazine and glyphosate. The survey, which included responses from over 1,000 farmers, found that 85% of respondents cited weeds as the top pest plaguing their crops, with atrazine and glyphosate as their top two herbicide choices.

Key Takeaways:

  • The survey found that farmers would face higher costs and reductions in crop yields if they were to lose access to atrazine and glyphosate, which are thoroughly tested and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • 85% of respondents cited weeds as the top pest plaguing their crops, with atrazine and glyphosate as their top two herbicide choices.
  • The National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr. expressed concern that claims about herbicides in the pending MAHA recommendations could remove access to the tools growers need to safely and sustainably produce a crop.
  • The EPA has extensively reviewed and approved the use of atrazine and glyphosate, determining that they are safe for their intended uses.
  • The MAHA Commission, formed through a presidential executive order, has released its initial assessment questioning the safety of the two herbicides.
  • The NCGA has spent months sounding the alarms about the MAHA Commission's focus on herbicides, warning that a complete ban on these pesticides could decrease crop yields by more than 70% due to pests, weeds, and disease.

Statistics:

  • 85% of respondents cited weeds as the top pest plaguing their crops.
  • Over 1,000 farmers participated in the survey, conducted between June 17 and July 2.
  • Atrazine and glyphosate are the top two herbicides chosen by farmers.
  • The EPA has approved the use of atrazine and glyphosate through extensive review and testing.
  • 70% decrease in crop yields could be expected if the pesticides in question were to disappear completely.
  • The EPA's reviews of these products are repeated every 15 years, or sooner if new data becomes available.

Sources:

  • REPORT: https://dt176nijwh14e.cloudfront.net/file/811/FJ%20Poll%202%20MAHA%20Pesticides.pdf
  • Original text here: https://www.ncga.com/stay-informed/media/in-the-news/article/2025/07/farmers-would-feel-impact-if-maha-commission-targets-pesticides-survey-shows

Read more