Ag Leaders Respond to MAHA Commission’s ‘Make Our Children Healthy Again’ Strategy Plan
The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, which is led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., released their new “Make Our Children Healthy Again” strategy plan on Tuesday.
That report outlines the Trump administration’s overall plan, which includes 128 initiatives, to address chronic disease in children through policies and research put into place across multiple federal agencies—including USDA.
“The Trump administration is mobilizing every part of government to confront the childhood chronic disease epidemic,” said Secretary Kennedy. “This strategy represents the most sweeping reform agenda in modern history — realigning our food and health systems, driving education, and unleashing science to protect America’s children and families. We are ending the corporate capture of public health, restoring transparency, and putting gold-standard science — not special interests — at the center of every decision.”
“America’s farmers and ranchers are at the heart of the solution — alongside doctors, parents, and communities — to fight chronic disease and protect future generations,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. “Under this administration, we are not just talking about healthy outcomes; we are delivering them by securing voluntary commitments to remove artificial food dye from major brands, providing technical assistance to states interested in restricting junk food and soda from SNAP, and providing growers with new tools to maintain and improve soil health, including the introduction of a regenerative farming practice pilot program. Together with our partners at HHS and EPA, we are charting a new course, strengthening the health of our families, and ensuring the U.S. leads the world with the safest, strongest, and most abundant food supply.”
Following the release of the report, several U.S. agriculture leaders issued their responses—including some who voiced cautious support for the report.
Kenneth Hartman, Jr., President of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA):
“The policy recommendations related to crop production, released today by the MAHA Commission, appear to be a reasonable and science-based approach for achieving its objectives. We are encouraged that when the commission engaged with agricultural stakeholders and followed the science, it reaffirmed what we already know: EPA is the appropriate agency for regulating crop inputs. We are also delighted to see precision agriculture, soil health and land stewardship prioritized, as these are areas in which corn farmers have led the way for many years. We look forward to working with the administration and Congress as they turn to the implementation of the report.”
Caleb Ragland, President of the American Soybean Association (ASA):
“Soybean farmers are thankful the MAHA Commission recognized EPA’s approval process as the global gold standard. Between the May report and today’s strategy, the Commission was accessible and open to learning more about modern farming practices. We truly felt like we had a seat at the table, and for that, we are incredibly appreciative.
“However, ASA remains concerned about the misinformed rhetoric from some Commission members around edible soybean oil. Not only is soybean oil backed by decades of science confirming its safety and nutritional value for consumers, but it is also a vital domestic market. We urge careful consideration of any upcoming rulemakings that could negatively impact U.S. farmers and the public.”
Duane Stateler, President of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC):
“While agriculture’s voice was widely unheard in the initial MAHA report, we thank the administration for listening to our concerns before releasing the ‘Make Our Children Healthy Again’ strategy. We all want to help our children be healthy, yet there is still more work and understanding for this goal to best be accomplished.
“America’s pork producers need the administration’s continued partnership and receptiveness to agriculture and food industry education.”
Ethan Lane, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA):
“This report confirms the science-based recommendation that making America healthy again has to start with safe, nutritious, fresh, whole-ingredient and American beef hits the target on all of the above. As this administration has pointed out before, beef is the crown jewel of American agriculture. Millions of American families build a healthy plate around our product every week. We will continue working with President Trump’s administration to keep the supply chain moving and keep the safest, highest quality beef in the world on grocery store shelves.”
Pat Clements, President of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG):
“American wheat farmers rely on safe and effective crop protection tools to ensure a stable and abundant supply of wheat, a cornerstone of our nation’s food security. These tools are essential for managing pests, diseases, and weeds, which directly impact yield and quality. Without them, our farmers would face significant challenges in meeting the demand for wheat, ultimately affecting consumers through higher prices and reduced availability. We urge the MAHA Commission to continue to recognize the critical connection between agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship, and to support policies that enable farmers to continue producing the food, fuel, and fiber our country needs. Farmers are stewards of the land, and we need the flexibility to use the best tools available to meet growing demand while preserving natural resources.
“Enriched and refined grains—like bread, pasta, and cereals—are important sources of fiber, iron, folic acid, and other essential nutrients for millions of Americans. These foods are often fortified to help fill key nutrient gaps, especially in underserved populations. The evidence simply does not support the idea that these grain products, when consumed as part of a balanced diet, are harmful to health.”
Gregg Dowd, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF):
“The MAHA Commission’s Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy recognizes what the latest science indicates and what we’ve long been saying: that getting whole milk back into schools and boosting dairy in diets helps meet America’s nutritional needs, and that it is critical to improving the health of our nation’s children.
“We appreciate the commission’s attention to our nation’s public-health needs, and we are excited that scientific evidence showing the benefits of dairy at all fat levels is finally gaining appropriate recognition. We are hopeful that the upcoming Dietary Guidelines will also reflect the overwhelming evidence that NMPF has shared for years: dairy, including whole and reduced-fat, is an excellent source of nutrients in American diets. And we look forward to working with the administration on furthering the health of American children.
“To further assist in dairy’s positive contributions to a healthier nation, we also urge Congress to pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would provide schools the opportunity to serve the nutritious whole and 2% milk that school kids love and codify into law the endorsement given in the administration’s report.”
Duane Simpson, President of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC):
“The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives welcomes the release of the final Make America Healthy Again Commission report and recognizes the progress made since the previous report was issued in May.
“We appreciate that the Trump Administration — working closely with Agriculture Secretary Rollins — listened to the concerns of farmers, ranchers, and cooperatives, and addressed several of the issues raised in the earlier version. In particular, the final report avoids unfounded allegations about pesticides and instead supports the science-based findings of agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which have consistently affirmed the safety and efficacy of modern agricultural practices.
“The report continues to highlight the vital role that farmers, ranchers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses play in ensuring a safe, nutritious, and affordable food supply for American families. We especially value the emphasis placed on the importance of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products in promoting better health outcomes. We also note with appreciation the recognition that multiple forms of fruits and vegetables — fresh, frozen, dried, and canned — provide significant nutritional benefits.
“On behalf of America’s farmer cooperatives, we thank President Trump and Secretary Rollins for their commitment to a more balanced final report with regard to production agriculture. Their efforts to engage with the agriculture community throughout this process underscore the importance of collaboration in crafting policies that support both public health and the continued vitality of American agriculture.”
Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF):
“Farmers and ranchers share the goal of improving health outcomes in America, and they are dedicated to growing safe, nutritious and affordable food for America’s families. Healthy meals start with healthy farms, and we appreciate the report’s recognition of the vital role farmers play in the food supply chain.
“A renewed focus on American-grown fresh fruits, vegetables and meat, along with reintroducing whole milk into the school meal programs can help provide a foundation for a lifetime of smart choices. Reducing or streamlining regulations in smart ways can allow farms operating on very thin margins to innovate, diversify and respond to consumer demand. Prioritizing voluntary conservation efforts for farmers and ranchers and optimizing EPA’s already robust pesticide regulatory process to accelerate innovation are welcome recommendations.
“We appreciate the commission’s willingness to meet with farmers across the country, hear our concerns and develop smart solutions. Those of us involved in the food system look forward to being fully engaged with the commission, and policymakers at all levels, to ensure a full understanding of the scope and intention of the recommendations and impact on our food supply chain.
“Our food system has evolved and innovated over time to provide healthy and nutritious food to meet the diverse needs and preferences of American families; and we look forward to further innovations to improve health outcomes in America while ensuring farmers and ranchers can stock America’s pantries.”