Kansas must act to protect food security
Right now, the conversation around crop protection tools is dominated by fear rather than facts. Under the guise of health, wellness, and civic duty, special interest groups are trying to take American-made pesticides off the market by promoting misinformation and lobbing baseless legal attacks.
They’re failing to see the full picture—and it’s time to correct the narrative.
As a farmer, former Kansas treasurer, and former state representative, I’ve seen firsthand both the challenges of running a modern farm and the importance of sound, science-based policy. Crop protection tools are essential to keeping farms productive, supporting sustainable practices, and ensuring Americans continue to have access to the affordable and abundant food we rely on.
Without these tools, the practices of farmers here in Kansas would be pushed back decades. We would be forced to rely more heavily on tillage—an outdated practice that damages soil health, undermining long-term productivity. Tillage breaks the living structures in soil apart, leaving soil loose and vulnerable. Over time, that damage makes it harder to grow resilient, high-quality crops at the scale Americans expect, resulting in lower yields.
There is no stronger conservationist than the American farmer, and crop protection products are part of the stewardship toolkit that helps reduce waste, preserve soil and water resources, and sustain productive land for the next generation.
With lower production comes dire consequences for both farmers and consumers. For farmers, it means tighter margins and a greater risk of bankruptcy in an industry already under pressure. For consumers, it means higher prices at the grocery store—from cereal and bread to beef and other staples.
Many Americans are already stretching their grocery budgets to keep food on the table for their families. Without crop protection tools, consumers could see prices jump even further, forcing families to make do with less, and hurting our country’s food security. A future with an unstable food supply isn’t something we should accept here in the United States.
Making our country healthier has always been a shared goal. Every American should have access to affordable, nutritious and abundant food. Our farmers are a crucial part of making this goal a reality, and the pesticides they use to produce robust harvests are integral. Crop protection tools help make healthful, nutrient-rich food available to all Americans—not just those who can afford to pay for it.
Protecting access to these tools is exactly why our senators must follow the House and pass HB 2476. Contrary to the prevailing narrative, this legislation does not grant immunity or weaken oversight. It simply affirms that Environmental Protection Agency-approved label on American-made pesticides—the same standard farmers have followed for decades—is the law in Kansas.
This bill doesn’t diminish Kansas’ authority—it just provides clarity and consistency grounded in science.
Lawmakers should also take a hard look at who is driving these attacks. Many of the loudest voices come from out-of-state groups with little understanding of farming or the realities growers face. Our farmers’ ask is simple: don’t tell us how to farm without understanding what’s at stake.
Protecting American agriculture means protecting the tools that make it possible to feed this nation safely, sustainably, and affordably. HB 2476 isn’t complicated—it’s common sense. And we owe it to our farmers.
Dennis McKinney is a former Kansas state treasurer, former member of the Kansas House of Representatives (D-116), and former state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency for Kansas. He is a farmer and cattle producer in southern Kiowa and northern Comanche counties.
