LAKE GENEVA, WI – Last week, USA Rice attended CropLife America’s (CLA) annual meeting here, in conjunction with the Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) annual meeting, that featured dynamic speakers and thoughtful dialogue on key issues facing the agriculture and agrochemical industries, including pesticide policies, tariffs, and communications.
The meeting opened with the Friends and Allies Dinner, where agricultural organizations gathered to reflect on the importance of collaboration between pesticide companies and farmer groups. CLA Board Chair Paul Rea, with BASF, welcomed attendees, noting, “We’ve had success when we elevate our voice together, and I think that’s the recipe for agriculture in the future.”
The agenda included a variety of speakers addressing pressing policy, regulatory, and communications challenges. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pesticides Kyle Kunkler provided agency insights and updates on the work underway to protect the environment and support American agriculture. Kunkler highlighted actions that EPA has taken to reduce the backlog of pesticide registration reviews, which was at 14,000 in January, by 5,000. He also spoke on Endangered Species Act implementation and how input from the agricultural community has been essential in developing mitigation measures that work for farmers and protect the environment. Kunkler also explained the role EPA has played in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.
CLA President & CEO Alexandra Dunn welcomed Calley Means, senior advisor to the White House on MAHA, for a fireside chat on the intersection of the MAHA movement and pesticide policy and collaboration opportunities in the future. Earlier this summer, USA Rice was invited twice to the White House to meet with Means as part of an agriculture stakeholder roundtable, prior to the release of the MAHA Commission’s report.
The meeting also featured an Agriculture Technology Pavilion, hosted in partnership with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, highlighting new innovations designed to enhance efficiency and productivity on the farm.
“The CLA Annual Meeting is a great chance to connect with leaders across the agriculture and crop protection sectors, gain insights on emerging policy and regulatory issues, and learn about exciting innovations shaping the future of farming,” said Shelby Young, USA Rice senior manager of government affairs. “Taking time to strengthen relationships and discuss both the challenges and opportunities ahead is invaluable for ensuring that our industry continues to thrive.”