DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio farmers are expressing disappointment and frustration following the release of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report, issued by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The report questions the safety of commonly used pesticides like atrazine and glyphosate, which are vital tools for modern agriculture in Ohio and across the U.S.
Grower leaders say the MAHA report contains unsubstantiated claims that dismiss decades of research and ignore the proven safety and effectiveness of science-based farming practices.
“We are deeply disappointed that the Make America Healthy Again Commission would release a report that raises questions that have already been answered about the safe use of pesticides,” said Tadd Nicholson, Executive Director of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association. “This report ignores decades of sound science and could jeopardize the ability of Ohio farmers to do their jobs efficiently and responsibly.”
The MAHA report implies a connection between pesticide use and chronic health issues in children. Although it stops short of recommending restrictions, it stokes unnecessary concern and calls for additional research, contradicting well-established scientific consensus and regulatory oversight.
“Ohio farmers live and work on the same land where they raise their families,” Nicholson stated. “They prioritize safety for their crops, communities, and children. The tools they use, including atrazine and glyphosate, are among the most extensively studied and regulated products in the world. These products have undergone rigorous EPA review and approval, and their safety has been confirmed time and again.”
Pesticides undergo rigorous scientific evaluation and are reviewed routinely by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association calls on President Trump, policymakers, regulators, and the public to stand with science, not conjecture, and support Ohio farmers, who work tirelessly to feed and fuel the nation.
“What Ohio farmers need is support, not suspicion,” Nicholson added. “This report only adds to the confusion in a conversation that should be rooted in facts. Our growers are committed to transparency and responsible stewardship. We welcome dialogue about public health, but it must be based on evidence, not fear.”
