The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission today released its long-awaited report, which denigrates the safety of key pesticides used by corn growers and other farmers. In response, the Kentucky Corn Growers Association released the following statements:
Josh Lancaster, President of the Kentucky Corn Growers Association (KYCGA), emphasized the need to base public understanding and decisions on science rather than fear.
“Farmers rely on safe, well-regulated tools to carry out our top priority, which is to safely feed the world. Pesticides are among the most strictly regulated products before they ever reach our fields,” Lancaster said. “From an economic standpoint, we need pesticides to meet the growing demand for food. But more importantly, we can’t afford to let fear-driven narratives without scientific support undermine trust in our food system. KYCGA is actively working to educate policymakers in Washington, D.C. and ensure the real story about pesticide use is heard.”
The report, prepared by the MAHA Commission raises questions about the effects of atrazine and glyphosate on the health of children. While stopping short of being prescriptive, the report calls for more research on the technologies.
Decades of extensive research and testing show that pesticides, including atrazine and glyphosate, can be used safely for their intended uses. The pesticides are required to be reviewed at least every 15 years and are subject to continuous review whenever new scientific data become available to keep registrations current. Importantly, EPA can also re-scrutinize a product at any time if there are new data suggesting any novel risks.