Farmer Leaders Ask Trump To Intervene Before MAHA Recommendations Are Released

Jul 21, 2025

By Lindsay Croke

MAHA Proposal Risks 70% Yield Loss Without Added Safety

IL Corn Growers Association President Garrett Hawkins of Waterloo, IL, joined 18 other state corn association presidents and the National Corn Growers Association in asking President Trump to intervene before the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission releases policy recommendations next month.

The concern is that the initial assessment released by the commission in May questioned pesticide safety in America, despite repeated assessments and tests proving safety for human health. To be approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency, pesticides have been rigorously tested and studied.

“The EPA is thorough in its review process,” says Hawkins. “I feel very confident using the available chemicals because of the testing and review. By law, the testing is even repeated at least every 15 years, or sooner if new information is available.”

Notably, the letter focuses on the impact on corn farmers around the country if MAHA’s pesticide safety concerns result in a revocation of the approval status of these needed tools.

Click here to see more...

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.