Key Takeaways
- Modern Ag Alliance and several state ag organizations voiced strong support for the HB 1318 legislation.
- North Dakota Senate passed House Bill 1318, reaffirming EPA-approved pesticide labels as legal compliance.
- The bill aims to protect farmers’ continued access to crop protection tools essential to food production.
- The bill passed with bipartisan support and awaits House re-approval before heading to the governor.
- A recent survey showed broad public support for maintaining access to crop protection technologies.
Modern Ag Alliance Supports HB 1318 Advancing to Governor’s Desk
The North Dakota Senate has passed House Bill 1318, a key piece of legislation that seeks to reinforce federal pesticide label standards at the state level. If re-approved by the House, the bill will head to the governor’s desk, placing North Dakota alongside Georgia as states taking bipartisan steps this year to protect access to federally approved crop protection tools.
According to Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Executive Director of the Modern Ag Alliance, “Farmers are grateful to the North Dakota Senate for taking strong action to protect the critical tools needed to grow the food and fuel we all rely on. If farmers lose access to key crop protection technologies, it will cripple their ability to compete and cause food prices to rise even higher.”
What HB 1318 Means for North Dakota Farmers
House Bill 1318 establishes that products approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) meet state label warning requirements. This legal framework ensures that agricultural companies and farmers are not subject to conflicting regulations or litigation when using EPA-approved products.
The bill’s passage reinforces the importance of crop protection products in maintaining yield and managing input costs, particularly for North Dakota’s major crops such as wheat, corn, soybeans, and sugar beets.
Broad Support Across North Dakota Agriculture
The Modern Ag Alliance cited findings from its recent Ag Insights Survey, showing that 81% of North Dakotans oppose legal actions that could restrict access to crop protection tools. Support was consistent across political and demographic lines:
- 90% of farmers
- 83% of Republicans
- 86% of Democrats
The bill also received backing from a coalition of state ag organizations, including the ND Corn Growers Association, ND Farm Bureau, ND Farmers Union, ND Grain Growers Association, and others.
Modern Ag Alliance Commends Legislative Champions
Burns-Thompson extended appreciation to Senate co-sponsors Greg Kessel, Paul Thomas, Mark Weber, and David Hogue for their roles in advancing the legislation. She added, “With HB 1318 now on its way to the governor’s desk, we look forward to officially reasserting that the label is the law in North Dakota.”
The Modern Ag Alliance continues to monitor related legislative developments and advocates for policies that support sustainable, science-based agricultural practices across the country.
