Modern Ag Crop Production Technologies
The federal government must make decisions based on sound science, peer-reviewed data, and by following a risk-based approach to avoid stripping away the critical crop input supplies (fertilizers, pesticides, biostimulants, seed, etc.) and precision ag technologies that ag retailers provide to their farmer customers.
ARA's Position
- Work with Congress, EPA, and state agencies to ensure FIFRA continues to follow a risk-based approach and utilize peer-reviewed data and science when it comes to pesticide registration and re-registration decisions.
- Support efforts to revise and simplify EPA’s ESA pesticide strategies to ensure they are achievable and not financially burdensome for agricultural retailers and their farmer customers.
- Support codifying oversight of pesticide registrations and regulations at EPA and state lead agencies.
- Support legislation that requires the EPA to consult with the USDA’s Office of Pesticide Management during the registration and registration review process for pesticide products.
- Protect farmers’ essential tools — including seed, pesticide, fertilizer, biostimulants, and precision agriculture technologies — and ensure access to critical crop input supplies.
- Support the registration and re-registration of essential crop protection products based on risk-based analysis and peer-reviewed science, including Section 24(c) label measures.
- Support a clear and efficient EPA pathway for registering generic GM events to expand product offerings, strengthen market competition, and ensure dealers can provide reliable, affordable options to their customers.
- Work with the EPA and industry partners to improve the Drift Reduction Technology (DRT) program and expand the agency’s understanding of the full range of drift reduction technologies.
- Support state pollinator protection plans (MP3) and native pollinators while challenging unsubstantiated claims that incorrectly identify causes of colony collapse disorder.
- Support continued use of soil fumigants until viable alternatives are available and accessible.
- Support conservation and technical assistance programs that promote the use of precision agriculture technologies by agricultural retailers and their farmer customers.
- Work with agribusiness stakeholders to develop model Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation that recognizes industry recycling programs, like ACRC, and exempts FIFRA-regulated products and agricultural packaging.
- Ensure EPA OPP and State Lead Agencies have exclusive pesticide regulatory authority. ARA supports science-based regulations and reaffirms EPA as the primary federal authority under FIFRA.
- Invest in research and development to enhance crop yields, improve plant health, and support innovation across the agricultural sector.
- Support policies that protect the security, processing, and appropriate use of agricultural data, while affirming the rights of agricultural retailers and other companies that generate or process data to protect proprietary information and control how that data is used, shared, and secured, including data derived from UAVs and satellite imagery.
Each year, ARA members decide a new set of public policy issues to steer the association's advocacy efforts with elected officials and regulatory agencies in Washington during the annual ARA Legislative Fly-In and beyond.
View the list of main policy priorities.
DC Help Desk
ARA's DC Help Desk member service is a direct line to ag public policy experts. Send regulatory and legislative questions to the DC Help Desk for support. ARA members may also use this service to request help when scheduling a facility tour with their elected official in Congress.