Farm Bill
ARA is advocating for several measures to be included in a multi-year Farm Bill to ensure that science-based regulations and the oversight of pesticides is based on scientific expertise of career regulators at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs and state lead agencies.
ARA's Position
Ag retailers and distributors are vital to the nation's food security success, serving farmers the right crop inputs, crop consulting, and custom pesticide and fertilizer application at the right time.
- Support legislation to streamline technical service provider (TSP) certification
- Back legislation to define & standardize plant biostimulants rules
- Advocate for legislation to remove National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticide General Permits for pesticide applications
- Support legislation to ensure EPA OPP & state lead agencies have exclusive pesticide regulatory authority with bipartisan language from the 2018 House Farm Bill
- Support the "Reducing Regulatory Burden Act" to amend FIFRA and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify Congressional intent regarding the regulation of the use of pesticides in or near navigable waters
- Back legislation to protect uniform pesticide labeling standards rooted in sound science & approved by EPA
- Preserve the crop insurance program, and like critical safety nets
- Work with USDA-Risk Management Agency to modify prevented planting dates to lessen potential impacts on ag retail
- Maintain current acreage dedicated to conservation programs & protect working lands
- Designate "an agricultural retailer" as eligible Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) partners
- Support reforms to the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program "Increase the Size Requirement of Refuges Planted to Slow Pest Resistance to Bt Crops" by lowering the required refuge threshold from 30 percent to 25 percent or lower to increase enrollment
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.
ARA At Work
Joey Caldwell, senior vice president at GreenPoint Ag, delivered testimony on behalf of ARA before the House Agriculture Committee for a hearing on "Financial Conditions in Farm Country" held July 23.
Caldwell introduces himself as a board member of ARA and the son of a proud west Tennessee farmer. Caldwell emphasizes how uncertainty continues to hinder progress in the farm economy, impacting his agricultural retail industry and rural communities across the nation.
"Implementing supportive agricultural policies that provide financial assistance, subsidies, and crop insurance to farmers can help stabilize farm incomes and reduce uncertainty," says Caldwell.
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.