News

AFBF is concerned about impacts of MAHA

The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation has concerns about the newly created Make America Healthy Again Commission.

“It really could take modern agriculture backwards,” he says.

Zippy Duvall says the organization supports the administration’s goal of bettering the health of consumers, but,”We have come so far in last two or three decades,” he says. “If we move it backwards, all that will reverse us into a more risky area.”

He tells Brownfield he’s concerned misinformation will impact crop protection availability for farmers. 

“If we couldn’t use some of the technology that we have and some of the tools that we have, we could go have to go back to plowing just get rid of weeds,” he says. “Agriculture doesn’t just fit everyone. That’s why we need to be at the table to bring the farmer perspective to make sure that we don’t destroy this wonderful food system.”

The commission had its first meeting earlier this week to discuss dietary guidelines with Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

More than 300 ag groups have sent a letter to USDA, EPA, and HHS calling on the departments to use sound science and data as they consider essential ag products and practices.

Brownfield interviewed Duvall during the 2025 Ohio Farm Bureau President’s Trip.