Threats to crop protection tools put Missouri’s food supply at risk

By Ray McCarty

Missouri’s farmers play a vital role in bolstering our state’s economy and its food supply. They help feed families across the state, support thousands of jobs, and serve as the backbone of rural communities. But according to a recent letter to the editor by Blake Hurst, former president of the Missouri Farm Bureau and a third-generation farmer, that foundation is facing a growing threat.

In his piece, published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Hurst outlines concerns over efforts by liberal trial lawyers to remove long-standing crop protection tools from the market. These products, Hurst explains, are essential to modern agriculture practices and help farmers protect their crops, manage costs, and maintain consistent yields year after year, keeping the food supply stable and grocery prices affordable.

If these efforts succeed, Hurst warns that companies producing key pesticides and crop protection products in the United States could be forced to halt production, leaving farmers with fewer options – many of them less effective and significantly more expensive than the crop protection tools they rely on today.

Reduced yields and higher production costs could ripple through the entire food supply chain, leading to higher prices for consumers and increased instability in an already strained system. For a state with a nation-leading agricultural industry, the economic consequences could be substantial.

“The tools that keep our livelihoods and local economies afloat should not be determined in a court or overregulated by politicians," said Hurst. "We must preserve the ability of Missouri farmers to make their own decisions about how to run their farms and keep food affordable for the families who depend on us.”

Associated Industries of Missouri supports legislation that clearly states federal labeling requirements are sufficient and protects against Missouri following the lead of California liberals who established unnecessary state labeling requirements for pesticides and other goods.

Without action from lawmakers, the risk of these essential tools becoming unavailable remains very real. Protecting access to safe, effective crop protection products is critical not only to the success of Missouri farmers, but to food security, economic stability, and the continued strength of our rural communities.

Blake Hurst’s full piece is available here.