Trump’s MAHA Plan to Curb Pesticides Sparks Farmer Fears of Soaring Food Costs

President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative has sparked a heated debate, pitting the administration’s push to curb chemical exposure in food against the concerns of America’s farmers. The MAHA Commission, stacked with Trump’s top advisors, recently dropped a report targeting childhood chronic diseases like obesity and mental health issues, zeroing in on pesticides as a key culprit. The report claims these chemicals, found in everyday foods, are linked to developmental problems and long-term health risks.

Farmers, however, are sounding the alarm. Groups like the National Corn Growers Alliance (NCGA) and the Modern Ag Alliance warn that restricting widely used pesticides like glyphosate could tank crop yields, jack up costs by 150%, and more than double food prices. They point to Sri Lanka’s 2021 pesticide ban, which slashed yields by over 50% and forced massive food imports. “Farmers are already juggling enough challenges,” said Elizabeth Burns-Thompson of the Modern Ag Alliance. “Losing these tools would gut family farms and food security.”

At a White House event, Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins tried to calm the waters. “We love our farmers,” Trump declared, noting their strong support in his election wins. Rollins doubled down, insisting the MAHA agenda is about “making American agriculture great again.” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of under-regulated pesticides, also reassured farmers, stating, “We won’t take any step that puts a single farmer out of business.” Yet, the report’s mention of glyphosate and atrazine as health risks has left farmers skeptical, with the NCGA slamming its “fear-based” claims as ignoring decades of EPA-backed science.

Analyst Jennifer Galardi from the Heritage Foundation sees the MAHA approach as a balancing act—protecting kids’ health while supporting farmers. She suggests the commission might focus on easier wins, like better diets and more exercise, to tackle obesity without upending agriculture. Still, farmers demand a seat at the table, urging the administration to stick to science and avoid policies that could cripple their industry.