Op-Ed by Col. (retired) Mark Purdy is the executive vice president of agri-food at The Directions Group (formerly Aimpoint), a strategic insights firm.
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| Mark Purdy |
With Congress back in session, the clock is ticking on critical issues that will shape the future of American agriculture and food security. Discussions about the next farm bill have resumed. As these conversations continue, policymakers should consider the impactful role crop protection tools play at the farm gate and beyond.
Food security is national security. Effective nutrition programs, globally competitive farmers, and conservation are all essential elements of food security. Herbicides like glyphosate, which is used on an average of 87% of corn, soybean, and cotton acres, enable farmers to be more sustainable and productive.
While farmers rely on these tools, ongoing uncertainty regarding pesticide labeling has created challenges for their continued availability, leading many to question what would happen if American farmers lost access to glyphosate. The consequences for American agriculture, policymakers, and particularly the farm bill–the central piece of legislation governing much of the U.S. food system–could be significant.
According to new research from The Directions Group, losing glyphosate could undermine key farm bill programs Americans rely on, adding billions of dollars in additional costs and further straining program budgets. To view the study click here.
Farmers would quickly feel the impact, losing almost $3 billion in net farm income every year due to a 2-2.5-fold increase in input costs–losses that existing farm safety net programs would not offset–jeopardizing the livelihoods of many farms already operating on thin margins.
The ripple effects of rising input costs could spread through the economy as food inflation could double based on 2025 forecasts. Higher food prices could impact the effectiveness of nutrition support programs, adding $7.1 billion to the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and childhood nutrition programs over the life of the next farm bill.
Crop insurance programs could also feel the impact. Glyphosate-enabled conservation practices, like no-till and cover cropping, have made fields more resilient to adverse weather, such as flooding, saving over $1 billion in policy losses in 2019 alone. The loss of glyphosate could result in increased prevented planting claims, thus raising insurance payouts and increasing costs by almost $3 billion over the next farm bill period.
To read the entire report click here.
