His comments followed stern questioning from Mississippi Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who said she had read news reports from “reliable sources” that the MAHA Commission’s initial assessment “may unfairly target American agriculture, modern farming practices and the crop protection tools that roughly 2% of our population relies on to help feed the remaining 98%.”

May 22, 2025

The White House published the first report from the MAHA Commission, sparking a flurry of reactions from across the industry.

Aug. 10, 2025

The executive order creating the MAHA Commission directs that a second report be issued within 80 days of this report, providing policy recommendations based on the findings of the first report. Based on Thursday’s publication, the second report would be due by Aug. 10.

Federal Government Officials

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins joined Trump in releasing the report at the White House on Thursday.

Rollins applauded the MAHA Commission. She said, “We must do more to improve the health outcomes of our kids and families, and President Trump knows agriculture is at the heart of the solution. America’s farmers and ranchers dedicate their lives to the noble cause of feeding their country and the world, and in doing so have created the safest and most abundant and affordable food supply in the world. We are working to make sure our kids and families are consuming the healthiest food we produce.”

In a press statement, the secretary’s office touted recent action and future plans:

• Rollins called on governors to submit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waivers. This week, she signed the first waiver to remove soda and energy drinks from Nebraska’s SNAP program.
• Rollins has worked with dairy producers to voluntarily remove artificial colors from products sold to K-12 schools for the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs beginning the 2026-2027 school year. Tyson Foods also committed to voluntarily removing petroleum food dyes from their products by the end of the month.
• Rollins says she is working with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to craft dietary guidelines for Americans, which are set to be released soon. The guidelines will prioritize whole, healthy, and nutritious foods such as dairy, fruits, vegetables, and meats, and suggest limitations of foods high in sugar and salt.

National Advocacy Organizations

American Farm Bureau Federation

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is the nation’s largest farmer-run organization and serves farmers in all 50 states.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall released a statement Thursday that said, “It is deeply troubling for the White House to endorse a report that sows seeds of doubt and fear about our food system and farming practices, then attempt to celebrate farmers and the critical role they play in producing the safest food supply in the world.”

Duvall continued, “Farmers are identified as ‘critical partners,’ yet were excluded from development of the report, despite many requests for a seat at the table. The report also expresses a desire to ensure farmers continue to thrive, but undermining confidence in our food system directly contradicts that noble goal. The report spotlights outlier studies and presents unproven theories that feed a false narrative and only then does it acknowledge a mountain of evidence about the safety of our food system.

“We suspect USDA had a prominent role in the report’s recognition that farmers are the critical first step in the food system, but as a whole, the report falls short. The American people were promised transparency yet presented with a report developed in secret.

 “As a farmer myself, I can confidently say that farmers and ranchers share the goal of improving health outcomes in America. They’re dedicated to continuous improvement, guided by sound science and technological advances.

“We are carefully examining the nearly 70 pages of contradictory assertions and look forward to further discussions with administration officials. President Trump has voiced his trust in farmers many times and we urge him to ensure a transparent process going forward with farmers at the table and sound science — not emotionally charged rhetoric — guiding the conversation.”

Later on Thursday, AFBF’s Newsline radio segment featured more perspective on the report from Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy.

National Farmers Union

National Farmers Union (NFU) advocates on behalf of more than 230,000 American farm families and their communities.

In a statement President Rob Larew said, “NFU appreciates the attention the White House brings to the health and well-being of America’s children. We agree that addressing chronic disease, nutrition, and environmental exposures must be grounded in sound science, transparency, and a commitment to public health.”

He continued, “Farmers and ranchers live, work, and raise their families on the same land where they grow the safe, nutritious food that feeds our nation and the world. Policy solutions must ensure family farmers retain the tools they need to support their livelihoods and the well-being of their communities. Innovation has long been a cornerstone of American agriculture, and we must be cautious not to stymie progress with one-size-fits-all restrictions.

“The report rightly highlights the threat of corporate consolidation in our food and agriculture system. As small and mid-sized farmers are pushed out, diversity in farming, local food systems, and rural economies decline. Improving health outcomes must go hand-in-hand with restoring fairness and competition. We stand ready to work with the administration on meaningful solutions to this long-standing issue.

“Farmers are key partners in building a healthier food system. But meaningful progress requires that farmers have a seat at the table. Disregarding the expertise of respected regulatory bodies and leaving farmers out of the conversation undermines public trust and puts the future of American agriculture and rural economies at risk. We urge the administration to include the voices of family farmers and ranchers as they continue this work and to ensure that solutions are rooted in sound science, fairness, and transparency.”

National Corn Growers Association

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)  is a farmer-led trade organization that represents the interests of more than 300,000 farmers.

“The MAHA Report is filled with fear-based rather than science-based information about pesticides,” NCGA said in a press statement. “We are deeply troubled that claims of this magnitude are being made without any scientific basis or regard for a long history of EPA expert evaluations of these products.

The statement continued, “Decades of extensive research and testing show that pesticides, including atrazine and glyphosate, can be applied safely for their intended uses. If the administration’s goal is to bring more efficiency to government, then why is the secretary of Health and Human Services duplicating efforts by raising questions about pesticides that have been answered repeatedly through research and reviews by federal regulatory bodies?

“We call on the administration to respect the existing body of science on pesticides and, moving forward, to include America’s farmers in discussion as this process evolves.”

American Soybean Association

The American Soybean Association (ASA) represents U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international policy issues important to the soybean industry. ASA has 26 affiliated state associations representing 30 soybean-producing states and nearly 500,000 soybean farmers.

ASA Director Alan Meadows is a soybean farmer in Tennessee. “Both farmers and members of Congress tried to warn the administration that activist groups were trying to hijack the MAHA Commission to advance their longstanding goal of harming U.S. farmers. Reading this report, it appears that is exactly what has happened,” he said in a statement.

“Activist organizations and trial lawyers are already engaged in baseless lawfare on pesticides. By bizarrely [and] without reason singling out two specific pesticides, the administration has offered activists a gift on a silver platter. Those groups will be poised to use the report to advance litigation aimed at taking away these tools American farmers use safely and effectively to produce our food,” Meadows said. “It is sad — and downright unjust — that, because of this one unfounded report, those decisions likely will be made by a judge and the court of public opinion instead of the regulatory system created for these very decisions and based on years and reams of credible science and research.”

International Fresh Produce Association

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support.

“The International Fresh Produce Association appreciates President Trump’s commitment to addressing the nation’s diet-related health crisis through the MAHA Commission. Today’s child-focused report recognizes that there is work to do to improve the nutritional quality of our food system. We also appreciate the report’s specific acknowledgement of the importance of fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops to Americans and the farm economy that feeds them,” the organization said in a statement.

IFPA encouraged the commission to engage more farmers as it continues its work: “The report’s focus on the practices and scale of food production, while inclusive of many opinions, includes some questionable assertions, some contrary to federal regulatory findings, and conflicting claims that could confuse Americans about the safety of their food. In its following report, we hope the Commission will collaborate more closely with farmers and producers to make recommendations that ensure the U.S. remains the world’s gold standard of risk-based, data-driven scientific decision-making, founded on transparency, public-private research, and innovation.”

Looking forward, the organization recommended, “As the Commission moves on developing policy, we stand by our MAHA recommendations released earlier this year and look forward to opportunities for the fresh produce sector to engage in shaping policies that will improve health outcomes for all Americans. While the fresh sector has long called for improvements to nutrition policy, we also encourage the Commission to recognize where there has been success. As acknowledged in the report, the WIC program has proven effective in improving health outcomes, largely due to its fruit and vegetable benefits. Additionally, the National School Lunch Program provides a daily fruit and vegetable to the 30 million students who participate and rely on this meal daily. As a result, school lunch is the healthiest meal most children — regardless of socio-economic status — will eat during their day.”

National Association of Wheat Growers

National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) is the primary policy representative in Washington, D.C., for wheat growers, “working to ensure a better future for America’s growers, the industry and the general public.” NAWG works with a team of 20 state wheat grower organizations to benefit the wheat industry at the national level.

In a press statement, NAWG emphasized that the EPA is the agency in charge of regulating pesticides, and the recommendations made in the report are not legally binding. However, the report’s contents have the potential to significantly impact America’s farmers, producers, and ranchers, and the public’s trust in the country’s food system.

“NAWG is deeply concerned with the content and implications of the MAHA Commission’s report,” said NAWG President Pat Clements. “Throughout the process, NAWG and other agricultural stakeholders have worked in good faith to provide the commission with accurate, science-based information about modern food production practices in the U.S. Wheat growers are proud stewards of the land and are committed to producing safe, healthy food for families here at home and around the world. Unfortunately, the report contains misleading claims that could undermine public trust in our nation’s food system.”

Looking ahead, Clements added, “We urge the Trump administration to ensure that the MAHA Commission’s future work is guided by sound science and peer-reviewed research. American consumers deserve facts — not fear —when it comes to how their food is grown and produced.”

National Pork Producers Council

National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is the global voice for the U.S. pork industry and works to protect the livelihoods of more than 60,000 pork producers.

Ohio farmer and NPPC President Duane Stateler said, “U.S. pork producers are proud to provide a safe and nutrient-dense protein for all Americans, and we support honest efforts to continuously improve our nation’s health and prosperity. Like others in farming and agriculture, we agree that nutritious, healthy, safe, and affordable protein from meat should be widely accessible so everyone can achieve the basic needs of a balanced diet. Filling our nation’s protein gap is critical, especially for those focused on food insecurity and improving the health of our nation.

“Efforts that not only exclude agriculture’s input, but also undermine the work of farmers serving our nation, are misguided and detrimental to all who care about facts and truth. Inflammatory rhetoric and distortions, meant to galvanize attention to achieve particular ideological outcomes, are harmful and undermine the world-class safety and reliability of the American food system. We urge extreme caution and recognize this as a moment for leadership that not only fosters and maintains trust in the foods we consume but also defends farmers against unwarranted and unfounded attacks.

“Our current system of producing food at scale for a vast and growing nation has unleashed prosperity and opportunity from coast to coast, and it is built on the strength of the shrinking number of us who continue to farm. Right now, it is vital for policy makers, members of Congress, and executive branch officials to ensure that America’s food security – and farm families like mine – remain strong, vibrant, and lasting.

“We urge President Trump to support America’s farmers, who use modern practices to feed 98% of the population. We implore this administration to ensure farmers have a seat at the table when discussions and decisions impacting our livelihoods are made. On behalf of my fellow 60,000+ pork producers and our commitment to continuous improvement, we stand ready and willing to assist and partner in transparent, risk-based research to further the health of our nation.”

National Sorghum Producers

National Sorghum Producers (NSP) works to create legislative and regulatory change for a more profitable, diverse and competitive sorghum industry.

Former NSP Chair Craig Meeker farms in Kansas. He said, “Sorghum farmers use pesticides and other crop protection tools to grow more with less and support our families and communities. These products are EPA-tested and used responsibly. Continued access helps keep healthy food available and affordable for all Americans.”

Modern Ag Alliance

Founded by Bayer, the Modern Ag Alliance is a coalition that represents more than 100 agricultural organizations advocating for U.S. farmers’ access to crop protection tools.

Following the release of the MAHA report, Executive Director Elizabeth Burns-Thompson said, “Farmers are already facing a host of challenges — uncertainty about their access to critical crop protection products shouldn’t be added to the list.” She added, “Crop protection tools are not only safe, they are essential to food security, affordability, and the survival of family farms all across this country. Losing access to these critical inputs would be a devastating setback to American agriculture.”

Crop Life America

CropLife America (CLA) is the leading national trade association representing the pesticide industry.

“Pesticides are thoroughly studied and highly regulated for safety,” said Alexandra Dunn, president and CEO of CLA. “While the MAHA Report recognizes the U.S. EPA’s robust and science-based decision-making, it unfairly casts doubt on the integrity of the federal review process.”

“This report will stir unjustified fear and confusion among American consumers who live in the country with the safest and most abundant food supply,” said Dunn. “We commend champions of agriculture in this administration and in Congress that have heard the voice of farmers.”

Without access to EPA-approved pesticides, significant crop losses would threaten the livelihood of family farms and lead to higher grocery prices and fewer healthy food options for families — the very opposite of what the MAHA Commission seeks to achieve.

Dr. Manojit Basu, vice president of science policy and regulatory affairs at CLA said, “Pesticides undergo more than a decade of rigorous testing and review before being approved for use by the U.S. EPA. This science-based process considers potential risk to humans, animals, and the environment, and ensures that pesticides can be safely applied when used as directed.”

Agricultural Retailers Association

Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is a non-profit trade association that represents the interests of agricultural retailers and distributors across the U.S. on legislative and regulatory issues. Ag retailers supply farmers and ranchers with products including seed, nutrients, crop protection products, feed, equipment, and technology. Retailers also provide consultative services such as crop scouting, soil testing, field mapping, custom planting, and application and development of nutrient management and conservation plans.

ARA CEO Daren Coppock said, “Without pesticides, farmers will struggle to control invasive insects and plant diseases, particularly those affecting perishable crops like fruits and vegetables. This would result in reduced food availability, diminished quality, increased consumer costs, and heightened food safety risks.”

State Agriculture Organizations

California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations are voluntary agricultural trade associations that proudly represent 100% of all cotton ginners and growers in the state. The associations represent their members on a variety of issues at both the state and federal level.

President and CEO Roger Isom said, “Crop protection tools that have been registered through EPA, have gone through the most rigorous, scientifically based, and health-protective process in the world. They have been analyzed to ensure there are no impacts to humans, workers, plants, animals, air quality, and groundwater. Application rates have been limited and buffer zones implemented to ensure the safest application possible, and where safety concerns could not be met, those chemicals are not registered for use in the U.S. American agriculture already has far less tools than the rest of the world, and we can not afford to lose any more and still produce the world’s best food and fiber.”

Georgia Agribusiness Council

Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) is the state’s leading trade association for agribusiness interests.

President Willy Bentley said, “Georgia’s farmers rely on proven, science-backed tools to grow the food and fiber that feed and clothe our nation. For more than five decades, glyphosate has been rigorously studied and consistently affirmed as safe. The Georgia Agribusiness Council supports continued access to this essential tool, which helps our producers stay productive, sustainable, and globally competitive.”

Georgia Farm Bureau

Georgia Farm Bureau works to serve more than 250,000 member families as a voice for Georgia agriculture.

Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall said, “In today’s farming climate, the availability of crop protection tools is critical to managing pest pressure, meeting the demands of a growing population, and staying competitive with foreign producers. American farmers cannot lose products that have been rigorously tested and approved over decades for any reason that is not based on sound science.”

Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) provides programs and services to the membership designed to increase production efficiencies, provide educational opportunities, promote new markets, monitor legislation, encourage applied research, and improve communications between GFVGA members and industry suppliers.

GFVGA Executive Director Chris Butts said, “Georgia growers need access to safe and reliable crop protection tools to compete in the global marketplace. Deemed safe for over 50 years by numerous studies, glyphosate is a key tool for Georgia growers that allows our farmers to grow the fresh produce that feeds our country.”

Iowa Corn Growers Association

Iowa Corn Growers Association and its board of farmer members and industry liaisons serve as the collective voice for more than 7,000 corn farmer members, lobbying on agricultural issues at the state and federal level.

Iowa farmer and Chair of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Jolene Riessen said, “The misinformation surrounding crop protection tools is incredibly upsetting because if there’s one thing all farmers have in common, it’s that we care about raising safe, healthy, and affordable food that nourishes families around the world. Agriculture is a science, and we have spent years testing and researching pesticides, like glyphosate, to reaffirm that they are a safe and vital tool farmers rely on to feed and fuel the world.”

The association also issued a press statement that said, “The report released by the Make American Healthy Again Commission is deeply concerning to Iowa corn growers. Crop protection tools, like pesticides, are essential for farmers working to provide affordable, high-quality food to those around the world. Farmers should not have to defend themselves against misinformation when decades of scientific research prove these tools are not only safe but essential.”

ICGA’s statement continued, “Farmers care deeply about leaving the land better than they found it. The crops farmers grow is the food they feed their own families, and together they strive to ensure that their agricultural products are safe and accessible for everyone who depends on them.”

Kansas Association of Wheat Growers

The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers is a member-governed organization representing wheat growers in planning legislation, advising government and international agencies on matters affecting wheat and providing grass-roots leadership to the U.S. wheat industry.

Following the report, President Chris Tanner said, “I am deeply concerned that misinformation about pesticides and other crop protection tools could severely impact wheat production across America. For wheat farmers like myself, crop protection tools are not optional; they are essential. These tools allow us to prevent devastating yield losses from diseases, weeds, and pests specific to wheat. They enable us to implement conservation-friendly practices, including no-till farming, which would be impossible without them. Through their responsible use, we maintain consistent production despite challenging weather conditions, while keeping food prices affordable for American consumers and supporting the economic viability of farms like mine and the rural communities that depend on agriculture.”

Kansas Soybean Association

The Kansas Soybean Association is the voice and advocate for soybean farmers on local, state, national, and international issues of importance. Founded in 1973, its advocacy efforts are made possible by farmers’ voluntary memberships and industry partners’ sponsorships.

President Brett Neibling said, “The Kansas Soybean Association’s number one policy priority is maintaining the right to farm for our state’s thousands of growers. Having access to critical crop protection tools is central to achieving that social license to operate as we know best. We urge federal decision makers to continue relying on sound scientific data practices to inform agricultural policy.”

Montana Agricultural Business Association

The Montana Agricultural Business Association consists of members from retailers, distributors, seed companies, and fertilizer suppliers representing more than 230 companies. “Actively involved in policy development, we support sound science-based policies that protect the crop and fertilizer industries,” says the association’s website. Chris Averill serves as MABA’s Executive Director.

“We cannot ‘Make America Healthy Again’ by putting Montana farmers out of business. The MAHA Commission Report casts doubt on critical crop protection tools that our producers have relied upon for decades, and that have consistently been proven safe. America cannot fall victim to the kinds of junk science that have disrupted agriculture and food security in other countries. It does not have to be that way; there is time for the MAHA Commission to meet with the agricultural community and understand the safety behind pesticides and fertilizers that make food production work so efficiently before issuing its recommendations in August. In fact, we will gladly host Secretary Kennedy, Secretary Rollins, Administrator Zeldin, or any member of the administration to visit us in Montana and see firsthand how Montana helps feed the world. Previous administrations have hampered the development of new pesticides, placing America’s agricultural community at a disadvantage with global competitors. We look forward to working with the Trump administration and the MAHA Commission to tell the story of American agriculture, and find ways to ensure the agricultural business sector is able to produce innovative, effective, and safe production tools for decades to come,” MABA said in a press statement.

North Carolina Grange

The North Carolina Grange is a subsidiary of the National Grange.

President Jimmy Gentry said, “Those of us involved in advocacy for agriculture have agreed that sound scientific principles should be used to guide policy decisions. Agricultural pesticides that are on the market have gone through rigorous research as to their safety and effectiveness when used according to label directions. Without these pesticides, farms would not be nearly as productive as they are now, making it more difficult to feed a growing population.”

North Dakota Soybean Growers Association

The North Dakota Soybean Growers Association is a statewide, not-for-profit, member-driven organization. The North Dakota organization is one of 26 soybean-producing states affiliated with the American Soybean Association.

President Justin Sherlock said simply, “We need to use sound science, not rhetoric, in all things.”

Ohio AgriBusiness Association

The Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA) is a membership-based state trade association working to represent the best interests of businesses that serve Ohio agriculture. Members include the manufacturers and wholesale/retail suppliers of plant nutrient and protection materials, the grain warehousing and marketing industry, the feed and seed industry, as well as companies providing equipment, financing, insurance, consulting, and other products and services for the agribusiness industry.

Melinda Witten, president and CEO of OABA said, “Ohio’s agribusinesses — and the farmers they serve — depend on regulatory certainty and science-based policy. We simply cannot disregard decades of proven science and put ideology ahead of innovation. Restricting access to safe, effective crop protection tools would have ripple effects across the entire food supply chain — from seed to shelf. Now more than ever, we must champion policies rooted in data.”

Oregon Farm Bureau Association

Oregon Farm Bureau is a grassroots, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing the interests of farming and ranching families in the public and policymaking arenas. With nearly 7,000 member families professionally engaged in agriculture, Farm Bureau is Oregon’s largest general agriculture advocacy organization, representing all farm sizes, production methods, and commodities.

President Angela Bailey said, “U.S. farmers depend on modern technologies and science to help us do more with less — grow more nutritious food with less fuel, less tillage, and lower costs, which benefits farmers, the environment, and American families.”

Oregonians for Food & Shelter

Oregonians for Food and Shelter is a non-profit coalition with members across the natural resource sector. “At our core, we represent communities of working Oregonians — the true environmental stewards of our farms, forests, and communities,” explained the organization’s website.

Executive Director Katie Murray said, “American producers provide the food and fiber that fuels our way of life, and sustains our local, regional, and domestic economies. Our safe and abundant food system has been built on decades of stringent regulations and governmental oversight. At the center of this system are the crop protection tools, which are essential to production and quality, and are among the most well-researched substances on Earth. We cannot let politics override science — our safe and abundant food supply depends on continued access to safe and effective crop protection tools.”

Washington Association of Wheat Growers

Washington Association of Wheat Growers is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to the enrichment of the Washington wheat industry.

Executive Director Michelle Hennings said, “Washington wheat farmers rely heavily on glyphosate and other crop protection tools to manage weeds and pests that would otherwise destroy their crop. In addition, glyphosate has allowed growers to realize incredible gains in environmental sustainability by making no-till practices affordable and successful. The science and research is clear — these chemicals are safe when label directions are followed.”

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