New Bill Aims to Protect Crop Tools

By Blake Jackson

Kentucky’s agricultural organizations are raising their voices in support of the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act. They believe the proposed law will protect farmers’ access to vital crop protection tools by reaffirming the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority over pesticide labeling.

The issue stems from a growing trend where individual states are creating their own pesticide labeling rules. This contradicts long-standing federal policy under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which grants EPA the authority to determine pesticide use and labeling based on science. States are allowed to regulate pesticide use within their borders but not change label or packaging requirements.

Kentucky farmers and agricultural leaders warn that such inconsistent state-level actions could confuse users, block access to key pesticides, and hurt farming operations. This could also threaten conservation efforts, public health, and even increase food prices. Pesticides play a vital role in preventing crop loss, controlling disease-carrying pests, and supporting sustainable farming practices like cover cropping and reduced tillage.

Organizations across the U.S., including key Kentucky groups like the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, Kentucky Soybean Association, and Kentucky Corn Growers Association, have signed a joint letter urging federal lawmakers to act. They emphasize the importance of science-based regulation and the need for national consistency in pesticide rules.

The letter warns that without action, the result could be a confusing patchwork of state laws that undermine public confidence in EPA decisions and threaten food security. The proposed Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act would ensure states cannot override EPA’s label decisions, while still allowing them to regulate use under FIFRA guidelines.

By supporting this legislation, Kentucky farm groups aim to maintain safe, affordable food production and protect the environment. They strongly urge Congress to pass the Act and safeguard agriculture’s future.

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