Hoosier Ag Today 

Ag Groups Call for Greater Input in MAHA Commission Process

Kevin
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U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who also serves as Chair of the Make America Health Again (MAHA) Commission. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

More than 250 ag groups representing farmers, ranchers, and agrochemical companies are urging the Trump administration to seek their input on future meetings of the Make America Healthy Again Commission (MAHA) after their first report pointed to pesticides as a possible health risk.

Among the ag groups that have signed onto the letter include:

  • Indiana Corn Growers Association
  • Indiana Soybean Alliance Membership & Policy Committee
  • Indiana Farm Bureau
  • Agribusiness Council of Indiana
  • National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
  • American Soybean Association
  • National Corn Growers Association
  • American Farm Bureau Federation

Reuters reports the farm sector has been pushing for more involvement in the work of the commission, established by President Trump in February and named for the social movement aligned with Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The MAHA report, which was released in May, was produced without adequate input from the farm sector and, as a result, “contained numerous errors and distortions that have created unfounded fears about the safety of our food supply,” said the letter sent to Kennedy, as well as U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

“The MAHA Commission would benefit from inviting public comment and formally including representatives from food and agriculture in any future reports,” said the letter.

CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

Sources: NAFB News Service, American Soybean Association