As spring planting season continues across the country, agricultural advocates are pressing federal regulators to accelerate approval processes for crop protection products that farmers say are essential for healthy yields.
The debate over pesticide labeling has intensified as consumers increasingly see products marked “glyphosate-free” in grocery stores. According to Madelyn Derks, Director of Government Affairs for the American Soybean Association, this creates a disconnect between consumer perceptions and farming realities, where pesticides like glyphosate serve as crucial tools for protecting crops from harmful pests and weeds.
The Environmental Protection Agency provided some relief to growers on February 6th when it announced new dicamba labeling for use on dicamba-resistant soybeans and cotton over the next two growing seasons. The timing proved critical for farmers preparing for planting, though the new regulations include challenging restrictions such as temperature limits and mandatory buffer zones that may complicate weed management during optimal spraying periods.
However, numerous new active ingredients and applications for existing products remain stuck in EPA approval processes, some waiting for months. This regulatory bottleneck comes at a particularly difficult time as agricultural input costs continue climbing, with pesticides facing the heaviest impact from tariffs at an average rate of 12 percent.
The situation has worsened over time, with the average approval timeline for new crop protection products extending from 11.3 years to 12.3 years. Agricultural groups worry that the growing EPA backlog puts American farmers at a competitive disadvantage compared to international producers who have faster access to innovative products.
The American Soybean Association has launched multiple advocacy campaigns to emphasize the importance of EPA’s science-based approval process and the need for farmer access to effective crop protection tools. The organization has identified particular concerns within the Make America Healthy Again movement, noting that both the movement and farmers share the common goal of providing affordable, nutritious food to American families.
Agricultural advocates argue that EPA should prioritize making new and innovative pesticide products available to growers more quickly. They contend that continued delays in registration approvals only weaken U.S. agricultural competitiveness at a time when global market position is increasingly important.
Industry representatives maintain that pesticides remain a fundamental component of producing healthy and sustainable food supplies, regardless of farming location or consumer purchasing preferences in grocery stores.
