Farm groups oppose duties on critical herbicide 2,4-D

Jul 17, 2024

NCGA leads call to rethink tariffs on vital agricultural chemical.

By Farms.com

The National Corn Growers Association and five other agricultural groups have sent a significant letter to the Department of Commerce, expressing deep concerns over the proposed tariffs on imports of 2,4-D herbicide. This action follows a petition by Corteva, which if approved, would limit the availability of a crucial farming input.

The letter underscored the potential wide-ranging effects on the agricultural sector, particularly at a time when farmers are grappling with historically high expenses and declining crop values.

With Corteva as the only significant domestic producer and current supplies unable to meet demand, the groups fear that tariffs would lead to critical shortages, undermining farmers' ability to maintain productive operations.

The coalition—which includes organizations like the American Soybean Association and the National Sorghum Producers—highlighted the timing as particularly detrimental. They cautioned that the financial burdens imposed by the tariffs could force reductions in farm spending, impacting yields and the economic vitality of farming communities.

As the Department of Commerce prepares to issue preliminary duty rates in September, the agricultural sector remains on edge.

The decision could dictate farming strategies and economic outcomes for numerous growers across the nation, underlining the crucial balance between protecting domestic industries and supporting agricultural productivity.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.