Don’t give China a de facto monopoly on Missouri agriculture | Opinion

After 53 years of working Missouri’s farmland, I have watched seasons change, with some years better than others. I have worked to improve our farming practices so that we use fewer inputs, run less equipment, and make our operation as sustainable as possible.

One tool that is essential in any farmer’s toolbox is glyphosate, best known as an ingredient in the pesticide Roundup. In use for more than 50 years and heavily scrutinized by the Environmental Protection Agency, glyphosate is a safe and effective tool that allows farmers to keep their yields high and input costs low. That means farmers can still profit while keeping prices stable at the grocery store.

There has been a lot of debate about the future of American-made glyphosate here in Missouri. Out-of-state special interests are trying to litigate this essential tool out of existence. The unintended consequences of these actions would be dire.

Farmers would lose access to one of the most tested and trusted crop protection tools at their disposal. Families would feel the pain at the grocery store as prices rise at a rate greater than expected. Missouri jobs would be put at risk. Worst of all, farmers could be forced to rely on China for this critical tool. By passing House Bill 544, our state legislature can stand firmly on the side of farmers and families all while safeguarding our national security. This law would simply assure that pesticides and herbicides following EPA guidelines can be sold and used in Missouri.

I could not farm at the rate I do without glyphosate. Pests and weeds such as corn rootworm and the Japanese beetle infest our fields every year, killing up to 40% of my yields. Imagine if I were to lose access to essential pesticides such as glyphosate, that number would skyrocket, leaving me with a limited harvest and putting my operation on the brink.

We are fortunate to live in a time where farmers are on the forefront of agriculture innovation. If we lose access to one of the most innovative tools on the market, I fear that our practices would move backward. That means more soil erosion, declining water quality and increased prices at the grocery store.

Beyond our farms, this is a national security issue. If American-made glyphosate is pulled from the market, we would be giving China a de facto monopoly on Missouri agriculture. This is not a good position to be in in the middle of a trade war. Once the Chinese find out they have this monopoly, they would almost certainly put the screws to Missouri farmers.

H.B. 544 would also go a long way to protect Missouri jobs. As a national leader in scientific crop research, the production of glyphosate in Missouri supports hundreds, if not thousands of jobs. By passing this law, we would give workers in this field peace of mind knowing that their careers, and the tools that they work to develop, are protected.

Our legislators must not allow themselves to buy in to false narratives pushed by out-of-state special interest groups. For example, this legislation is not so-called “blanket immunity.” Instead, what this bill does is bring state law in line with EPA guidelines, ensuring that there is consistency while cutting red tape for the agriculture industry.

To keep our state and our farmers at the cutting edge of innovation, our legislature must pass H.B. 544 into law. This bill would protect our farmers, families and workers for generations to come.

This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 10:21 AM.