Healthy Farms Are Grounded in Sound Science

There’s nothing I love more than seeing my family healthy and happy. We all want our children and grandchildren to live healthy and full lives. And farm families like mine know that healthy meals start with healthy farms.

When the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission released its report, however, it raised concerns across the agriculture community. To be clear, the concerns were not about the goal of improving the health of Americans. I can confidently say that farmers and ranchers share that goal. What farmers like me find troubling is the way the report sows seeds of doubt about the safety of farming and our food system when, the truth is, America has a safe food supply because of the careful, science-based practices we follow.

The report elevates unproven theories that feed a false narrative about modern agriculture and undermines years of research and rigorous testing that ensure safety in how our food is grown. Farmers and ranchers are dedicated to continuous improvement. We are guided by sound science and technological advances. The advances we have made across agriculture are nothing short of remarkable. Without sound research and science-driven innovations, the American farmer would not be able to keep up with the demands of growing the safe and affordable food, fiber and renewable fuel our nation depends on.

American farmers today are responsible for feeding more people than ever before. On average, a U.S. farm feeds 169 people each year. One hundred years ago the average American farm fed 10 people each year. At that time, roughly 1 in 4 adults were farmers, and they needed to be to keep everyone fed. Today, just 1 in 50 adults are farmers. We have moved forward together across agriculture—producing more with less and protecting our soil and water—because of science. We are growing safe and nutritious food to fill Americans’ pantries. And we are meeting the challenge, thanks to science and innovation.

Advances in modern agricultural practices that protect our soil are better than ever. Technology enables farmers to be as precise as possible—using only what is needed when they are watering, protecting and treating their crops. Sound science has guided critical safety standards that help keep our food safe, our water clean, and our families healthy.

The MAHA Commission report recognizes this progress, in fact. The report noted that life expectancy in the U.S. has increased by more than 30 years compared to 1900. That’s due, in part, to agriculture’s ability to meet the nutritional needs of America’s families. But we cannot do that without sound science, innovation and advances in technology.

Farmers and ranchers welcome the opportunity to share more about the decisions we make every day to grow nutritious food for our families and yours. The MAHA report notes that farmers are critical and should be “at the center” of the health discussion. We agree, and we would have welcomed that opportunity. Unfortunately, farmers were not given a seat at the table—even though we asked. It is not too late, though. Farm Bureau is calling on the administration to bring farmers into this discussion to ensure a full understanding of agriculture by everyone on the MAHA Commission.

The American public trusts farmers and ranchers, and they are counting on us. Any meaningful discussion about agriculture must include the men and women who are working every day to grow a safe and healthy food supply for families across our great country.