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 are based on the 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.
- Preserve the crop insurance program and other important farm safety nets.
- Support codifying oversight of pesticide registrations and regulations at the EPA and state lead agencies.
- Support the “Reducing Regulatory Burden Act” (HR 3824) to amend FIFRA and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify Congressional intent regarding the regulation of pesticide applications in or near navigable waters and remove the need for NPDES Pesticide General Permits for applications already approved under FIFRA.
- Maintain current acreage dedicated to Conservation Programs (CRP/CSP) and protect working lands.
- Support the statistical survey work carried out by the National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS) in support of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) administered by USDA NRCS.
- Streamline Technical Service Provider (TSP) certification by recognizing Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) as approved TSPs and support legislation to expand access to TSPs (Increased TSP Access Act of 2025 – H.R. 575 / S. 156).
- Designate agricultural retailers as eligible Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) partners.
- Support reforms to the USDA-NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program, including lowering the required refuge threshold from 30% to 25% or lower to increase enrollment.
- Support legislation to define and standardize rules for plant biostimulants (Plant Biostimulant Act of 2025 – H.R. 3783 / S. 1907).
- Support legislation that ensures EPA OPP and State Lead Agencies have exclusive pesticide regulatory authority, consistent with bipartisan language included in the 2018 House Farm Bill.
- Support legislation to ensure uniform, science-based labeling standards for pesticides approved by the EPA.
- Work with the USDA-Risk Management Agency (RMA) to modify prevented planting dates to lessen potential impacts on the ag retail sector and ensure dates reflect advances in technology.
- Increase FSA loan limits and modernize credit programs (PACE Act – H.R. 1991 / S. 899) so growers can better finance land, inputs, and operations — directly improving retailers’ ability to extend trade credit and manage risk.
- Expand access to rural capital and financing tools to strengthen cash flow across the ag supply chain, ensuring retailers and growers can invest, operate, and grow with confidence.
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.