Kansas Corn Makes a Difference in MAHA Recommendations

Kansas Corn Makes a Difference in MAHA Recommendations

9-9-25: The Make America Healthy Again Commission's policy recommendations for addressing chronic childhood disease released today, took a proactive, science-based approach toward agriculture's roles in reaching the commission's objectives, according to the Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA). KCGA leaders were encouraged that today's report did not call for additional and unnecessary actions against atrazine and glyphosate, two pesticides that help growers control weeds and are vital tools for sustainability practices.

In its initial report in May, the MAHA Commission called out atrazine and glyphosate for further review, causing concern among corn farmers. Corn growers took immediate action to advocate and educate the administration on this issue. KCGA, along with the National Corn Growers Association, launched an aggressive effort to ensure that the use of these key crop protection tools continues to be governed by our government's rigorous, science-based regulatory system.

In July, KCGA Secretary Brett Grauerholz, Republic attended a roundtable discussion with officials from Health and Human Services and USDA hosted by Kansas Senator Roger Marshall. Grauerholz was able to interact with leaders from MAHA movement, USDA and HHS, including Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., talking about on-farm practices employed by farmers, and invited them to visit his farm.

"Sometimes it just takes corn farmers going to Washington DC to explain to the policymakers what is actually happening on our farms when it comes to soil health, sustainability and responsible pesticide use. That's what the grower members of the Kansas and National Corn Growers Association did with in-person meetings and with many of our members sending letters to the administration," Grauerholz said. "Our proactive efforts truly made a difference."

The Commission called for continued improvement in precision agriculture, soil health and stewardship of the land, which corn growers are already embracing and implementing on their farms to increase their sustainability efforts. The commission report also called for an effort to build public awareness of the Environmental Protection Agency's rigorous pesticide review procedures already in place which are considered the most comprehensive procedures of any nation.

The August 9 MAHA report stated: "EPA, partnering with food and agricultural stakeholders, will work to ensure that the public has awareness and confidence in EPA's pesticide robust review procedures and how that relates to the limiting of risk for users and the general public and informs continual improvement."

NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr., released the following statement:

"The policy recommendations related to crop production, released today by the MAHA Commission, appear to be a reasonable and science-based approach for achieving its objectives. We are encouraged that when the commission engaged with agricultural stakeholders and followed the science, it reaffirmed what we already know: EPA is the appropriate agency for regulating crop inputs. We are also delighted to see precision agriculture, soil health and land stewardship prioritized, as these are areas in which corn farmers have led the way for many years. We look forward to working with the administration and Congress as they turn to the implementation of the report."

Established in 1975, the Kansas Corn Growers Association is celebrating 50 years of advocacy representing its members in legislative and regulatory issues and promoting Kansas corn and its products. Visit kscorn.com for more information.

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