Why This Executive Order Matters for Farmers
February 28, 2026
| Friends, What a week! Between the Supreme Court’s decision on tariffs, a cancelled and rescheduled Farm Bill markup, and a State of the Union address, there’s been no shortage of news. In today’s Dispatch, I want to look back at a significant announcement out of the White House that may not have received the attention it deserves. Let’s jump in. —————————————————————————————– Last Wednesday, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled Promoting the National Defense by Ensuring an Adequate Supply of Elemental Phosphorus and Glyphosate-Based Herbicides. The order mobilizes the Defense Production Act to strengthen domestic production of both glyphosate and elemental phosphorus. In short, the administration is explicitly acknowledging that glyphosate-based herbicides are among the most widely used and critical crop protection tools available to U.S. producers, and that elemental phosphorus is a necessary input not only for those tools, but also for key defense supply chains. The executive order and accompanying fact sheet note that the United States currently has only one domestic producer of both elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides. That concentration presents a clear vulnerability for both agriculture and national defense. The order also includes liability protections aimed at ensuring that regulatory or litigation risks do not undermine the viability of this domestic supply. The agriculture industry’s response was swift but measured. The American Farm Bureau Federation expressed support, noting that the order reinforces the principle that food security is national security. The Modern Ag Alliance lists several supportive responses from the agriculture community in their briefing. Here in North Carolina, a May 2025 NC State report estimated that losing access to glyphosate would result in an $82 million economic impact to our state’s agriculture sector alone. I have not seen a specific post from our state about the executive order, but these numbers show the importance of this product to our farming community. Interestingly, the rollout has been relatively quiet. There has been little fanfare, but in this case it seems that flying under the radar is preferable to a headline battle. The response from opposition groups, and especially the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) crowd, was as expected. In a release, the Environmental Working Group said that this order is a “big middle finger” to MAHA moms and that “elevating glyphosate to a national security priority is the exact opposite of what MAHA voters were promised.” That’s what makes another development so noteworthy. In a recent public statement, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged the complexity of the issue and the importance of maintaining a stable and secure food supply. For someone who has spent years framing glyphosate primarily through a (negative) public health lens, the shift is striking. A narrow view, however well-intentioned RFK Jr. claimed it to be, can have huge consequences for farmers, food prices, and supply stability. Recognizing the reality that crop protection tools are critical is not a betrayal of health concerns; it’s an acknowledgment that policy must weigh tradeoffs. This executive order has real, far-reaching implications for our industry and shows the administration is listening to producers and sound science. It didn’t happen by chance; it reflects the impact of strong, consistent advocacy. Keep speaking up and sharing your stories. It makes a difference and on-the-ground advocacy works. Alright, now let’s talk about the impacts of this executive order on North Carolina businesses. We took a preliminary look at sectors across North Carolina that intersect with this supply chain, but we know it is not complete. I would love to hear from you about sectors of the industry we have not thought about. Crop Protection and Ag Input Supply Chain North Carolina is home to crop protection manufacturers, chemical distributors, and regional input suppliers that operate throughout the Southeast. These businesses rely on stable access to glyphosate-based herbicides and phosphorus inputs to serve farmers efficiently and competitively. Any effort to strengthen domestic production has downstream implications for these supply networks. Fertilizer Production and Phosphate Supply Eastern North Carolina plays an important role in phosphate mining and fertilizer production. Companies operating in this part of the supply chain are directly connected to elemental phosphorus markets and could experience effects tied to pricing stability, regulatory certainty, and domestic production priorities. Agricultural Retail and Farm Services Across the state, agricultural retailers, agronomy providers, and farm supply operations support producers with herbicides, fertilizers, and crop protection tools. Changes to supply stability or production incentives at the federal level can influence procurement costs, availability, and long-term planning for these locally rooted businesses. To finish up today, don’t forget that the North Carolina primary elections are on March 3. If you have not voted, today (Saturday) is your last chance to vote early if you get to most polling places before 3 p.m. You can find your early voting location here, or your Election Day (Tuesday March 3) polling place here. We hope you’ve made your plan to make your vote count in this election. |
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| Tori Rumenik Executive Director, North Carolina Ag Partnership |