The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) joined the American Soybean Association (ASA) in expressing cautious optimism following the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s release of the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy and appreciates the Trump administration for increasing engagement with agricultural stakeholders since the May report. 

Following the May report, which MSGA joined ASA in strongly rebuking, ASA met with the MAHA commission seven times to provide scientific data and strategic recommendations. MSGA also met with USDA officials and legislative leaders, both in Washington, D.C., and back home in Minnesota, along with engaging in state and national media interviews. Those advocacy efforts paid off for Minnesota soybean farmers.  

“We were very concerned with what we saw in the initial report and stayed proactive in voicing those concerns as the second report was being developed,” MSGA President Darin Johnson said. “This report is a win for sound science and shows once again that MSGA continues to lead the way in fighting for our farmers and the future of our operations.” 

The strategy acknowledges the Environmental Protection Agency’s robust, science-based pesticide approval process, a welcome shift from earlier critiques, and highlights the benefits of precision agriculture while proposing policies to expand access to these tools. 

“Soybean farmers are thankful the MAHA Commission recognized EPA’s approval process as the global gold standard,” said ASA President Caleb Ragland. “Between the May report and today’s strategy, the Commission was accessible and open to learning more about modern farming practices. We truly felt like we had a seat at the table, and for that, we are incredibly appreciative.” 

However, ASA and MSGA remain concerned about the misinformed rhetoric from some Commission members around edible soybean oil. Not only is soybean oil backed by decades of science confirming its safety and nutritional value for consumers, but it is also a vital domestic market that adds value to the farm economy. MSGA urges careful consideration of any upcoming rulemakings that could negatively impact U.S. farmers and the public. 

“We grow a healthy, high-quality crop, and the science backs that up,” Johnson said. “This is an ongoing dialogue, and it’s critical to ensure ag has a seat at the table when these important conversations are taking place.”