Farm Bureau Urges Careful Review of White House Report

American Farm Bureau Federation President and Georgia farmer Zippy Duvall today urged President Trump and his advisors to carefully review a White House report scheduled to be released this week to ensure it is based on sound science and not ideological theories.

“America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to doing the right thing, including producing a safe, affordable and nutritious food supply. Agriculture has been on a journey of continuous improvement since our country’s founding. We welcome recommendations based on facts and hope the president will insist that’s the case with the upcoming report from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission.

“Farmers feed their families the same food they produce for America’s families, and we rely on credible science to guide our practices. We welcome efforts to improve health outcomes in America but recommendations to limit farming practices based on unproven theories could have severe unintended consequences. America’s food independence is important, and the White House should not recommend changes that lead to greater reliance on other countries to supply our food. There is also a risk of reducing access to affordable and nutritious foods, including fruits and vegetables.

“History teaches us that it takes a very long time to rebuild public confidence once it is lost – even if the loss is caused by incorrect or incomplete information. This is certainly true when it comes to the food system. We are counting on President Trump and his advisors to carefully examine the upcoming report to ensure its accuracy and scientific grounding before giving a final stamp of approval.”