Making America Hungry Again? The Battle for Glyphosate
June 30, 2025 The makers of glyphosate, the most popular and long-derided herbicide, continue to battle lawsuits and bans, despite multiple studies declaring it safe. So, what would it mean for the ag industry should those opposed to its continued use win out?
Modern Ag Alliance, a national coalition of more than 100 different associations and agricultural organizations representing a variety of commodities, brought a pair of farmers to explain how a ban would impact their operations if the anti-glyphosate crowd wins out.
“We do anticipate, unfortunately, that pesticide will be a key piece of that (Make America Healthy Again commission) report and that much of that may be guided not on science, but on a book of misinformation that exists across the countryside,” says Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Executive Director, Modern Ag Alliance. “So, we are here today, hoping to bring not only concerted voice forward, but also making sure that the voice of the farmer of those entities in those farmers that are actually out in the countryside using these products depending upon these products are brought to the forefront.”
Blake Hurst has farmed corn and soybean in Missouri for nearly 50 years. Farmers, Hurst begins, lose about 40% of crops from diseases, and that figure would double “without the help of protection chemicals,” he says. If that’s the case, “It will be a terrible development for American agriculture,” Hurst says. “Glyphosate has been consistently found by the EPA to be safe.
“If we continue to demonize farming and the tools farmers like me use to put food on every dinner table in America, then no chemistry no and no farm operation is safe,” Hurst continues. “We are staring down at a potential crisis at our doorstep. Me and thousands of farmers rely on glycol, they thought it was staying safe. We do not put ourselves, our families, and our workers at risk. The notion that farmers are essentially being accused of (applying) poison for the country we love, is deeply upsetting to me, especially since my eldest daughter is fighting cancer.”
Scott Henry, a fourth-generation corn and soybean farmer from Central Iowa, agrees. Henry operates Longview Farm, a family operation, where he farms alongside his parents and brother with “a great team of other folks.”
“I think the biggest thing that I want to make clear today is that the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) commission’s report drives future policy decisions. Food prices will go up, and instead of making America healthy again, will be making America hungry again,” Henry says.
“Family farms like mine are already under pressure from local commodity prices, high input costs, and interest rates, but seemingly won’t come down and trade uncertain date,” Henry says. “So, to have anti-activists (who’ve) never stepped through a farm or taken our perspective or the science into their own to understand they’re getting away with impacting both farmers and consumers, and the impact of that could be severe bottom line is this without glyphosate higher (food) prices will get passed on to the consumer.”
“Research shows that losing this product would cause food inflation for more than double and that’s just with one chemistry like the tool that keeps supply chain stable and food, fuel, and fiber affordable for American families,” Henry continues. “U.S. farmers can’t eat any increase input cost and ultimately input price surges would be paid at the grocery store checkout line by the consumer (due to) losing access to glyphosate.”
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