Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology

Terry Kippley, CPDA

January 8, 2025

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from all of us at the Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology. We are off and running as we begin our work on making 2025 our best year yet.

The Time is Now. Register Today for the CPDA 2025 Fly-In

Legendary Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas “Tip” O’Neill (D-MA) popularized the phrase “All politics is local” because it captures a simple truth. As mysterious and complex as the legislative and political process can be, success usually boils down to something far simpler. That is, the knowledge and participation of local people politicians already know.

That’s where you come in. If your elected representatives already know you, that’s great. It’s time to sharpen the saw and reconnect by coming to the Fly-In. If they don’t know you, the Fly-In is the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself and to make your voice heard. While the CPDA staff can use up shoe leather crisscrossing Capitol Hill on your behalf, it’s your efforts representing your own company interests that propel and advance our policy initiatives.

So, make plans today to attend the 2025 CPDA Fly-In on February 24-26.

This year’s Fly-In will be held in conjunction with the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA). We will kick-off our program on Monday evening with a joint CPDA/ARA welcome reception followed by dinner with American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duval. AFBF is the nation’s largest farm organization, with more than five million members. Come listen to what President Duval is hearing from Farm Bureau members nationwide.

Senator John Boozman (R-AR)

Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation

On Tuesday morning, we march up to Capitol Hill for meetings with Congressional leaders and staff. On Tuesday evening we will have our annual CPDA/ARA Hill Reception followed by dinner with Senator John Boozman (R-AR) (invited), the Chairman-in-waiting of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

On Wednesday morning, we will have a series of meetings with staff from EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs including meetings with the Registration Division and the Environmental Fate & Effects Division. Our Fly-In will close out with a meeting with OPP Director, Ed Messina.

Please register for the fly-in today. We have secured a great rate of $199 a night at the Westin Arlington in Arlington, Virginia but this rate is only available until February 3rd or until the room block is full. Note: Your hotel stay must be booked separately from your fly-in registration.

A New Year, a New Congress, a New President, and a New Administration

The 119th Congress was sworn in on January 3rd and President Trump will be inaugurated on January 20. Joining many familiar faces and friends is a crop of newcomers ready to get to work on CPDA’s policy initiatives. Last week, Andrew Walmsley, CPDA’s Vice President of Governmental Relations made the DC rounds in preparation for a new Farm Bill and an appropriations battle to fully fund EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs.

Kicking things off was a visit to the office of Representative Angie Craig (D-MN), the newly elected Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, which means that Minnesota holds both Ranking Member positions.

Andrew Walmsley, CPDA and Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN).

Next up was a visit with Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), a key member of the House Appropriations Committee. Fully funding EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs is a top CPDA priority and Rep. Hinson’s vote is sorely needed to tackle the registration backlog at OPP.

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Andrew Walmsley, CPDA.

Andrew was also able to attend a reception in honor of Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, where she was joined by her Minnesota colleague, Senator Tina Smith.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN)

Finally, Andrew got some valuable face time with House Agriculture Chairman Glenn "G.T." Thompson. The last Congress punted a new farm bill for another year, so getting a farm bill done in 2025 that reflects the current needs of farmers and ranchers is a top priority for both him and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman.

Andrew Walmsley, CPDA and House Agriculture Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA).

Andrew Walmsley, CPDA and Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman (R-AR).

CPDA Adjuvant Certification Program Update

The CPDA Adjuvant Certification Program has experienced significant growth over the past year in both the number of certified products and in the number of companies marketing CPDA Certified products.

As of December 31, 2024, there are 238 CPDA Certified products being marketed by 39 companies. Seven additional products are currently under review by the CPDA Certification Committee.

The value and support of this program is further evidenced by our partnership with Telus, which provides access to CPDA Certified product labels within their database. CPDA provides Telus a Certificate of Certification which is valid for a period of three years. CPDA filed sixty-four new/renewal certificates with Telus at the end of December.

The Certification Program has also brought creditability to CPDA in dealing with EPA and their implementation of ESA regulations, ensuring adjuvants are recognized as a drift mitigation tool in buffer zone reduction.

CPDA Adjuvant Standards Revision

The CPDA Board of Directors recently approved the following revision of the CPDA Certification Standards:

“Article (S-7-b) Toxicity data and the resulting Hazard Signal Word listed in the SDS submitted with the application for CPDA Certification created by a Regulatory Database Software Program shall be accepted in lieu of the Article (S-7-a) requirement.

In the event an ingredient/formulation is not in the selected Regulatory Database, Article (S-7-a) shall apply.”



The adoption of this revision provides applicants submitting a product for CPDA Certification, that utilizes a regulatory database software program, an alternative to meeting the toxicity data requirement. The CPDA online application has been updated to allow for this selection.

CPDA/ARA Adjuvant Advantage Webinar Series

Tuesday, February 11th

Storage & Handling Pesticides

Geared to applicator personnel. How to deal with compatibility, mixing, cold water, pumps, hoses, etc. Sponsored by Brandt.



Certified Crop Advisers attending the webinar will earn one Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) program, IPM CEU.

Until next time...

CropLife Innovation Series Webinars

CropLife hosts dozens of webinars each year. Click on the link for a list of upcoming events, as well as archived presentations that can be viewed on demand. Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) can earn CEUs by attending these webinars.