April 3, 2025

CPDA PAC Hosts Fundraiser for Rep. Mike Simpson to Advocate for EPA OPP Resources

CPDA PAC, in collaboration with our partners in the PRIA Coalition, hosted a successful fundraiser for Rep. Mike Simpson, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies overseeing funding for EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP). This event provided a valuable opportunity to advocate for the resources necessary to address the regulatory backlog at EPA OPP. By ensuring timely reviews and regulatory certainty, we can help deliver the proven tools our farmers need. CPDA remains committed to working with key policymakers to advance these priorities for our industry and agricultural community.

Croplife America, RISE, American Chemistry Council, Ecolab, Household and Commercial Products Association and CPDA (members of the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) Coalition), hosted a fundraiser for Representative Mike Simpson.

On March 15, Andrew Walmsley, CPDA’s Vice President of Government Relations, and I met with White House staffers at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to discuss the importance of a fully functioning and productive Office of Pesticide Programs. Our key points focused on the need for a more predictable and efficient regulatory process, which benefits farmers while delivering new technologies to the marketplace. The staffers emphasized that CPDA’s priorities are in alignment with President Trump’s, which seeks outcomes that support American farmers and ranchers.

ESA—Final Insecticide Strategy Deadline Extended, CPDA Engages with EPA on Data Submissions

This week, CPDA’s team of experts met with EPA’s Environmental Fate and Effects Division (EFED) to discuss ongoing data submissions supporting the expanded use of Drift Reduction Adjuvants (DRAs) for Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance. CPDA has provided additional data for both the herbicide and insecticide strategies and is actively preparing new data to support the forthcoming fungicide strategy, expected in 2026.

In a related development, the Northern District Court of California has extended the deadline for the Final Insecticide Strategy by 30 days, moving it to April 30, 2025. CPDA remains committed to working closely with EPA and industry stakeholders to ensure effective, science-based regulatory outcomes.

CPDA, CropLife America and Agricultural Retailers Association Release Endangered Species Act Pesticide User Guide

CPDA, in collaboration with CLA and ARA, developed the following “ESA Pesticide User Guide.” Given the complexity of new pesticide use restrictions imposed by ESA, this resource is designed to help farmers and pesticide applicators navigate these new label requirements. The user guide will also help farmers mitigate some of the measures more easily.

Emergency Commodity Assistance Program

On March 18 – National Agriculture Day – Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the details of the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, which was authorized by the American Relief Act of 2025, passed by Congress late last year.

Under the program, USDA will provide up to $10 billion in direct assistance to agricultural producers to offset rising input costs and declining commodity prices. The program will be administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Payments will be based on planted and prevented planted acres for eligible commodities in the 2024 crop year.

CropLife Magazine Adjuvant Article Highlights Evolving ESA Role

Thanks to CropLife Magazine Senior Editor Dan Jacobs for explaining the benefits of adjuvants in an article entitled Adjuvants Increasingly Important Role in Crop Protection, which was published in the March 24 issue of CropLife Magazine.

Dan’s opening paragraph is an excellent summary of the rising emergence and importance of adjuvants.

“When times are tough and money is short, it’s adjuvants that are often left out of the input plan. Given the role adjuvants play, dropping them from the routine might be a mistake.”

Thank you Dan for highlighting adjuvants and thank you CPDA members for your efforts to shine a light on the importance of adjuvant use.

The link to the article is here: Adjuvants Increasingly Important Role in Crop Protection - CropLife

Monarch Butterfly Listing

Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed listing the Monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal outlines species-specific protections that are likely to include pesticide use restrictions within butterfly habitats.

“Today, the eastern migratory population is estimated to have declined by approximately 80%,” FWS said. “The western migratory population has declined by more than 95% since the 1980s, putting the western populations at greater than 99% chance of extinction by 2080.”

CPDA and all of agriculture are watching this closely as Monarch restrictions could reach far and wide. For pesticide users, Insecticide Strategy restrictions will directly affect the Monarchs themselves while Herbicide Strategy restrictions will affect the protection of milkweed, the Monarch’s host during its north/south migration to and from Mexico.

The deadline for comments on the FWS proposal ends in early May.

CPDA Comments on U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Shipbuilding Proposal

CPDA, together with over 100 agricultural organizations, submitted a coalition letter to the USTR addressing the Section 301 investigation into China’s involvement in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries.

While agriculture fully supports President Trump’s efforts to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding, there are significant concerns about the immediate and long-term negative effects on U.S. agriculture due to the current limited capacity of domestic shipbuilding. The letter urges the USTR to grant an exemption for agricultural exports and essential imports from the proposed fees on Chinese vessels and the sourcing requirements for U.S.-built ships. Without this exemption, escalating shipping costs will render U.S. agricultural exports less competitive, harm rural economies while driving up production costs.

CPDA Lends Support for State Attorney Generals FIFRA Petition

Recently, a coalition of State Attorneys General submitted a petition to EPA urging them to initiate rulemaking to clarify pesticide labeling requirements. The AGs are concerned about inconsistent state-imposed pesticide label requirements that contradict EPA safety findings, potentially creating a confusing and conflicting regulatory landscape between states. The petition calls on EPA to establish clear federal guidelines to prevent states from requiring misleading health claims on pesticide labels.

CPDA, along with 295 other organizations, submitted a letter to EPA in support of the State Attorneys General (AG) petition, urging EPA to initiate rulemaking to clarify pesticide labeling regulations.

CPDA Meets with State Farm Bureaus

Last week, Andrew Walmsley met with several state Farm Bureaus who were in Washington DC for their fly-ins. It was a great opportunity to raise awareness of CPDA along with briefing Farm Bureau members on our top priorities.