Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology

Terry Kippley, CPDA

August 21, 2025

Register for Upcoming Annual Meeting

Early Bird Discount Ends Tomorrow!

Join us for an exclusive opportunity to gain invaluable insights into the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its priorities as they pertain to registration approvals and 2026 ESA grower mitigations.

September 28 – October 1, 2025 Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva, WI

CPDA Meets with EPA’s Registration Division

Last week, members of CPDA’s EPA Working Group met again with EPA’s Registration Division to explore ways the industry can help reduce the agency’s regulatory backlog. EPA was represented by RD Director Billy Smith, Jen Saunders, Daniel Rosenblatt and others. CPDA was led by Working Group Vice Chair Alexis Bromley (Nutrien), with support from Dan Kunkel (Amvac) and Nathan Ehresman (Albaugh).

The discussion centered on proposals developed by CPDA to improve process efficiency and help streamline reviews. These included expanding opportunities for product chemistry self-certification, clarifying label expectations to reduce duplicative review work and modernizing the notification process under PRN 98-10. The group also shared ideas for pilot automation projects to speed “me-too” registrations and prepare for broader reforms under PRIA 6.

CPDA will continue working closely with the agency to refine these concepts and press for improvements that can ease EPA’s workload.



A large number of Working Group members joined virtually, including Chair Dave Bolin, Karen Warkentien, Niamh McMahon, Shannon Russell, Robert Avalos, Melinda McCann, Jayne Walz, Kevin Dearwester, Matt Granahan, Marcia Trostle, Carrie Tackema, Nandi Nagaraj, Lisa Mathias, Ray McAllister, and Lynn Georges. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated!

Terry Kippley, CPDA; Alexis Bromley, Nutrien; Dr. Dan Kunkel, AMVAC; Nathan Ehresman, Albaugh; Andrew Walmsley, CPDA.

Make America Healthy Again Commission Update

The highly anticipated “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) strategy report was expected to be released on August 11. That didn’t happen as there are still apparent disagreements about what should and should not appear in the report.

That didn’t stop Politico from publishing a leaked draft of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) strategy, which was dated August 11. The New York Times also reported on having reviewed a draft copy. White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Politico: “Until officially released by the White House and MAHA Commission ... any documents purporting to be the second MAHA Report should be disregarded as speculative literature.”

The Politico article states: “On the agriculture and farming side, the draft report avoids direct mentions of herbicides like glyphosate and atrazine, unlike the first MAHA report, but it calls for the federal government to research total chemical exposure and urges USDA and EPA to research precision technology to decrease pesticide use.”

While we are pleased with this initial reaction, CPDA continues to work alongside a broad coalition of agriculture and food industry stakeholders to shape the upcoming recommendations. There is growing optimism, supported by White House signals and the Politico article, that the next installment will de-emphasize pesticides and instead underscore the value of a strong, science-based regulatory environment at EPA.

Despite this mostly positive news, it’s clear that tensions are rising within the MAHA movement. Calley Means, senior White House adviser to MAHA, recently urged supporters to “attack the deep state in agriculture and food” rather than criticize Secretary Kennedy or President Trump. His remarks appear directed at the traditional agricultural establishment that relies on conventional crop protection tools and established dietary practices.



This internal friction, combined with the delay of the MAHA report, highlights this complex and evolving landscape. CPDA will continue to engage constructively with coalition partners to advocate for balanced, evidence-based policy that supports both public health and agricultural innovation.

Food & Agriculture MAHA Public Comment Letter

CPDA joined 30 other national agricultural and food organizations in a letter to the Health and Human Services (HHS), USDA, and EPA urging the agencies to open a public comment period for the forthcoming “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy.” The coalition stressed that the MAHA Commission’s earlier assessment lacked transparency and contained erroneous information that undermined confidence in the U.S. food supply and regulatory systems. The letter calls for a transparent, science-based process with stakeholder engagement to ensure policy recommendations are grounded in data and effectively support public health while recognizing the role of American agriculture in providing safe, nutritious, and affordable food.

EPA Backlog Reduced by 5,275 Cases

The latest data from EPA as of August 1 shows a significant reduction in the pesticide registration backlog since January 20, with 5,275 cases cleared. CPDA appreciates the agency’s continued focus on this issue and the leadership of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in driving progress.



CPDA has been actively engaged in advancing these improvements, working with EPA on process reforms, advocating before Congress, raising awareness through our op-ed in Agri-Pulse, and highlighting the issue during the recent House Agriculture Committee hearing. These efforts are starting to yield results, and while there is still a long way to go, CPDA remains committed to working with policymakers and the agency to sustain momentum and ensure continued progress on behalf of our industry.

EPA Releases New Mobile Tool to Help Farmers Implement Pesticide Mitigation Measures

EPA has released a new app designed to help farmers and applicators better understand their mitigation options to reduce pesticide exposure to nontarget plants and animals.

The mobile tool is called the Pesticide App for Label Mitigations or PALM which EPA describes as an “easy-to-use, mobile-friendly tool to serve as a one-stop shop” for farmers and applicators. PALM consolidates EPA’s mitigation menu into a one-stop resource, combining the functionality of existing spray drift and runoff calculators into a streamlined web interface.

Specifically, the application incorporates information from the Ecological Mitigation Support Document, the Insecticide Strategy, and the Herbicide Strategy, providing users with guidance on runoff and erosion mitigation points, buffer reductions, and applicable field conditions. This first version is part of EPA’s broader IT improvement efforts and supports Administrator Zeldin’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative.

CPDA will continue monitoring the rollout of PALM as EPA expands its functionality and begins incorporating mitigation requirements into product labeling. We will also work with EPA to ensure that Drift Reduction Adjuvants are a featured PALM mitigation option.

Register for EPA’s Webinar on Mitigation Measures to Protect Endangered Species from Pesticides

EPA will host a public webinar on September 16 at 2:00 PM ET to walk pesticide users through its updated mitigation menu, including runoff/erosion and spray drift measures designed to protect endangered species.

The session will highlight how growers can navigate the online menu, use the new PALM tool, and select mitigation options that work best for their crops and fields. CPDA has been working closely with EPA through monthly ESA outreach meetings and is partnering with ARA, CLA, NASDA, and others to develop outreach and educational resources for growers and applicators, including recognition of drift reduction adjuvants as mitigation measures.

CPDA Member Outreach

Listening to members on how CPDA can solve commercial problems is key to our priority of being member-centric. A heartfelt thanks to two members whom I had an opportunity to do just that.

KALO Member Visit

Terry Kippley, CPDA; Chuck Champion, Grant Kalberer, Bianca Wood, Olivia Govea, KALO.

Rosen’s Member Visit

Bruce Lyall, Matt Meredith, Terry Kippley, Matthew Caldwell, Reid Rosen, John Buol, Craig Wilson.

Brett Randoll not pictured.

CPDA’s Capitol Connection

At CPDA, our commitment to advocacy and member support remains at the core of everything we do. CPDA’s Capitol Connection is your go-to source for quick, essential updates on policies and regulations impacting your business—in just two minutes. Each week, we’ll break down the most pressing issues affecting our industry, offering valuable insights into both state and federal initiatives.

The latest Capitol Connection can found on our website and LinkedIn page.

ASTM 44th Symposium on Pesticide Formulation and Delivery Systems: Navigating the Challenges of Sustainable Innovation

 Join ASTM Session 5 moderator Mason Neal with CPDA member Chemorse on Thursday, October 9, 2025, for a presentation by Dr. Andrew Hewitt of CPDA.

Dr. Hewitt will deliver his talk:

“The Endangered Species Act and Buffer Zone Reductions Using Nozzle and Drift Reduction Adjuvant Optimization: Update on Field and Wind Tunnel Research and Modeling for Manned and Unmanned Aerial Applications.”

Upcoming Industry Events

Until next time….