OKFB appreciates Supreme Court ruling upholding federal supremacy in pesticide labeling

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Stacy Simunek issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Monsanto Company v. Durnell that federal pesticide labels preempt state pesticide labels.

"Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are relieved that the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed that federal pesticide labels preempt any attempt by states to issue additional pesticide labels or warnings.

"The court's ruling helps ensure there is a single, consistent, scientifically determined pesticide label that governs the use of each crop protection product across our nation. Creating a patchwork of various pesticide labels on a state-by-state basis would have created unnecessary confusion and burdens for agricultural producers.

"Crop protection products, including glyphosate, are an important tool that American agriculture uses to produce food safely while limiting the impact on our natural resources. Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers are committed to using pesticide products, including glyphosate, responsibly. In fact, agriculture producers actively work to limit the amount of pesticides they apply to only what is absolutely necessary to safely grow our crops and care for our land.

"Farmers and ranchers will continue to follow EPA's approved pesticide labels and use pesticides in a careful and measured way to ensure a safe and affordable food supply."