Don’t Let Pesticide Giants Sacrifice Farmers, Families and the Environment to Pad Their Bottom Line
SIGN THE PETITIONS TO BOTH THE EPA & THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY. Public comments due by August 22, 2025. The suggested comment texts are editable and we encourage you to make them your own. Or send them as-is.
EPA Petition: https://toxinfreeusa.org/take-action/dicamba-2025-epa
WHITE HOUSE Petition: https://toxinfreeusa.org/take-action/dicamba-2025-white-house
EPA INVITES MASS DESTRUCTION WITH RE-APPROVAL OF DICAMBA
“Over-the-top dicamba is very effective for controlling herbicide-resistant weeds in dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans. Under the Trump Administration, EPA will ensure that farmers have the tools they need to protect crops and provide a healthy and affordable food supply for our country,” an EPA spokesperson told Newsweek.
On what planet do the EPA political appointees live? Twice banned by the courts, we know there is no way to use this toxic, carcinogenic herbicide without causing immeasurable collateral damage and harm.
Ultraprocessed foods made with GMO soy are already unhealthy. Drenching the GMO soy with toxic dicamba takes those risks to a whole new level. And no, these GMO foods are not affordable, despite being taxpayer-subsidized. The only thing the EPA is ensuring is another giveaway to pesticide giants—while turning a blind eye to the sweeping death and destruction they cause.
Dicamba is known to be so toxic and dangerous that it was banned by the courts in 2020 and and again in 2024. If Bayer-Monsanto, ChemChina-Syngeta, and BASF succeed in getting EPA to overturn the courts and rubber-stamp dicamba herbicide for the third time, it will be disastrous for agriculture, the environment, and the health of humans and wildlife.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Dicamba is a highly toxic, volatile, and drift-prone herbicide known to be able to spread for miles beyond its area of application, killing or damaging all vegetation in its path. The herbicide is so volatile it has the potential to re-aerosolize and drift days after its application in certain weather conditions, making it very difficult, if not impossible, to track back to the source. Because it’s so hard to track, polluters are rarely held accountable.
GMO farmers’ reliance and overuse of glyphosate on GMO glyphosate-tolerant crops since the mid-1990s has caused weeds to evolve resistance to the herbicide. These “superweeds” can’t be killed with glyphosate alone. So Monsanto genetically engineered new crops able to tolerate over-the-top spraying with both glyphosate and dicamba.
The USDA deregulated Monsanto’s glyphosate and dicamba-tolerant soybean and cotton seeds in 2015.
Failing to listen to massive public concern and outcry prior to the first approval in 2016, the EPA went on to approve certain dicamba formulations for over-the-top spraying on Monsanto’s GMO soy and cotton. Despite the sounding of alarm bells by farmers and environmental groups like GMO/Toxin Free USA, EPA gave these dicamba formulations the rubber stamp.
Following EPA’s approvals, year after year dicamba drift was responsible for damaging or destroying millions of acres of non-GMO soy, cotton and other food crops like sugar beets, rice, sweet potatoes, peanuts, peaches, tomatoes, grapes and more, harming the livelihoods of non-GMO and organic farmers, and even harming GMO farmers who didn’t want to buy the new, expensive seeds. Dicamba drift has also caused widespread damage to native plants and trees, wildlife refuges, and home gardens.
Dicamba drift damaged an estimated 5 million acres of crops, trees and backyard gardens between 2016 and 2017. Despite the massive reports of drift damage, in 2018 the Trump EPA not only re-approved its use, but expanded the geographical areas where it could be used.
USDA data shows that dicamba drift damaged 15 million acres of soybeans in 2018 alone.
And to add insult to injury, the USDA does zero testing of food crops for dicamba contamination. So we don’t know how much of this carcinogenic chemical we are consuming in our food.
In 2020, a National Institutes of Health study, published in the journal International Journal of Epidemiology, found that the use of dicamba can increase the risk of developing numerous cancers, including liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancers, acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and mantle cell lymphoma which may manifest up to 20 years after exposure. With dicamba’s ability to drift for miles, people in many areas of the country are now routinely forced to breathe in this dangerous chemical.
A 2024 study, published in the journal Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society, found the amount of pesticides used on farms was strongly associated with the incidence of many cancers for farmers and their families, and also for entire communities. The study showed that “agricultural pesticides can increase your risk for some cancers just as much as smoking” and living in places with high pesticide use increased the risk of colon and pancreatic cancers by more than 80%.
A first-of-its-kind 2025 study, published in the journal GeoHealth, finds exposure to multiple pesticides significantly increases the risk of childhood cancers compared with exposures to just one pesticide, raising new fears that children are more at risk to the substances’ harmful effects than previously thought. If reapproved, dicamba will be added to the toxic cocktail of pesticides already being used on GMO farms.
In South Dakota, Little Shire Farm, an organic farm run by John and Lisa Zuhlke, was devastated multiple times over multiple years by dicamba drift. “We got completely wiped out. We had to stop production. All of our CSA shares, community-supported agriculture shares-gone; farmers markets–gone.”
Richard Coy was forced to shut down Coy’s Honey Farm in Arkansas, the largest family-operated beekeeping operation in the state, and move it to Mississippi. Dicamba drift damaged the vegetation his bees depended on to live, and also resulted in “undesirable product.” “It’s very emotional, but you can’t let emotions get in the way of business decisions, and the best business decision is to not go broke,” said Coy.
Bader Farms, the largest peach orchard in Missouri, reported 1,000 acres of peaches damaged by dicamba drift over multiple years. Bill Bader’s peach farm was put out of business.
After growing non-GMO soybeans for 15 years, farmer Adam Chappell was forced to switch to GMO dicamba-tolerant soybeans because GMO farmers surrounding him were using dicamba-tolerant soybeans and spraying dicamba. This was, in fact, part of Monsanto’s strategy and marketing plan. In 2020, the Midwest Center conducted an extensive investigation and found that Monsanto released its dicamba-tolerant soybeans knowing the herbicide would cause widespread damage to soybean and cotton crops that weren’t resistant to dicamba. Monsanto used “protection from your neighbors” as a way to sell their seeds. This is nothing short of extortion.
Drift issues even led to a murder in Arkansas in 2018. Farmer Mike Wallace was shot dead after he blamed his crop loss on a neighboring farm. When Wallace confronted the neighboring farm’s farmhand, Curtis Jones, for illegally spraying dicamba, Jones murdered him.
These are only a few of the many thousands of cases of farms and lives devastated by dicamba drift.
In July 2020, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated EPA’s registration of dicamba. But the Trump administration ignored the court order and re-registered dicamba for use through 2025.
In 2021, the EPA introduced minimal restrictions on dicamba use to address the drift issues. But by the Agency’s own admission, this did nothing to reduce dicamba drift damage. EPA’s own data shows dicamba has harmed thousands of farmers to date. The EPA’s December 2021 report states that these numbers are likely an undercount by 25 times.
Through the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, it was the same song, different verse. With EPA’s inaction, more damage and health harms were documented across America.
“I would like everyone to contact the EPA… If we can get enough people to rise up and say ‘enough is enough, we don’t want to poison our food’, maybe we can get something changed,” said beekeeper Richard Coy.
On February 6, 2024, the U.S. District Court of Arizona overturned the 2020 dicamba registrations that allowed over-the-top applications of three dicamba products, Bayer-Monsanto’s XtendiMax, BASF’s Engenia and ChemChina-Syngenta’s Tavium. The second court order in four years!
Now in 2025, the Trump EPA wants to re-approve this dangerous pesticide again. This is truly madness. There is no other word for it.The EPA and White House must stop colluding with the pesticide industry and start defending public health and the environment.
Demand that the EPA do its job and reverse course. Tell the EPA and the White House to ban dicamba once and for all.
EPA Petition: https://toxinfreeusa.org/take-action/dicamba-2025-epa
WHITE HOUSE Petition: https://toxinfreeusa.org/take-action/dicamba-2025-white-house
Please ban Dicamba, it’s clearly unsafe, based on history. And just as clearly, it’s irresponsible to allow its use. Thank you.
Twice banned by the courts, we know there is no way to use this toxic, carcinogenic herbicide without causing immeasurable collateral damage and harm.
Ultraprocessed foods made with GMO soy are already unhealthy. Drenching the GMO soy with toxic dicamba takes those risks to a whole new level. And no, these GMO foods are not affordable, despite being taxpayer-subsidized. The only thing the EPA is ensuring is another giveaway to pesticide giants—while turning a blind eye to the sweeping death and destruction they cause.
please ban ” Dicamba ”…. a clearly unsafe pesticide that seriously threatens human health in our agricultural farming industries as well as our food products grown on farms using this product.
The science is there that this is bad for people and the environment! No more dicamba!
Dicamba DESTROYS CHILDREN’S BRAINS! The GOP LOVES THAT?
Dicamba makes Children RETARDED! SHAME!
PLEASE BAN DICAMBA. IT’S POISONING AND KILLING PEOPLE AND ALL LIFE. FOR WHAT? THERE IS NO GOOD IN USING IT, ONLY DESTRUCTION.
I think it should be banned and everything should be organic 100%
Carcinogens are defined by science, peer reviewed science. If science offends you , why say that publicly?
Science doesn’t offend me, but ” forever” chemicals definitely do. Our children should not inherit an environment that makes them sick, or kills them. We owe them a future free of hazardous chemicals.
Ban Dicamba it is unsafe and unhealthy for humans, wildlife, and the environment. Ask any Vietnam veteran.
Please BAN THESE harmful CHEMICALS!
i am trying to rebuild soil so i can grow healthy food. please stop this.
Please ban these toxic substances, EPA!
President Trump has long expressed concern over the use of pesticides and herbicides. If he could accomplish a ban or a partial ban on these deadly substances—not an easy task to go up against the chemical industry—I would warmly thank him and all of you for this accomplishment. This would be a truly great legacy for you all.
Please vote for our health not a corporation’s pocketbook.
Thank you!
Gave me Cancer and killed calves from run off in ditches. Pilot that sprayed us not from Illinois but from Carolinas.
Plus have it on film and Illinois EPA USDA and FAA wont do a Damn response.
BAN DICAMBA AND ALL OTHER POISONS!
This is putting profit over the health of U.S citizens.
No american actually wants gmos, pesticides, and mystery chemical laden ingredients in or on their food. Stop allowing this. All people deserve simple healthy food.
Please don’t approve these pesticides.
Demand that the EPA do its job and reverse course. Tell the EPA and the White House to ban dicamba once and for all.
BAN ” DICAMBA ”….THIS TOXIC PESTICIDE HAS NO PLACE IN 21ST CENTURY FARMING PRACTICES….ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET.
No more toxic pesticides.
Use NATURE to combat pests.
There are predatory insects that eat the bad bugs.
This has to stop right now. Farmers need our help and all farmers are in danger. Please help them and stop this immediately. Thank You!
Ban dic am a and all other carcinogens!
Ban all carcinogens from our human AND animal food NOW.
There are pesticides available that do not cause cancer.
Government is just as vulnerable to disease as the rest of us.
Help our farmers grow healthy food for all.
Thank you.
The Farms are being overrun with pesticides that harm the people who pick, clean and eat this produce and if it is to feed the animals it then poisons the animals, too.
I need you to understand this is poisoning everyone and bringing a slow, disease filled future to everyone on the planet!! If you allow it, WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND OUR RIGHTS TO SUE ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THIS SLOW MURDER OF AMERICANS.
In this day and at this time when the world is dying right in front of our eyes, we have an administration not interested in anything but profit. Humanity must come first. We do not want Dicamba Herbicide Re-Approved. We, the people, want to take the way of helping re-nurish the soil, clean the water, give back the habitat we have stolen from animals, plant trees and promote clean energy to do it. We will not go back to the days of Big Oil, Dirty Coal, and all the others who have harmed this planet. We also want a healthy ocean and no more drilling in the ocean or anywhere else. We want to grow organic and give all we touch the gift of health without pesticides, fertilizers, etc. Our slogan is, People above Profit! Perfect!!!
BAN ALL CARCINOGENS FROM FOOD AND WATER. NO CHEMICALS IN EITHER FOOD OR ANIMALS. WE DO NOT WANT POISON IN OUR FOOD, WATER, ANIMALS OR AIR. WE ARE SICK OF BEING POISONED FOR PROFIT.
As a retired pediatric nurse I have seen children damaged from pesticides in their neighborhoods. We must stop polluting the environment and our children’s health.
Once and for all do not allow pesticide companies to continuously attempt to overturn previous court decisions to ban Dicamba so they can continue to reap vast profits while they poison our air and water, destroy vegetation and crops by uncontrollable drift and ignore study after study showing serious harm to human health and the environment as a whole. Ban Dicambia forever!!
Ban dicamba!
Please ban Dicamba! It is unhealthy and unsafe for us all!
Thank you!
Respectfully,
Christine Clark
We must ban dicambia forever. This toxin has no place on anyone’s menu!
Please ban Dicamba Herbicide forever! Stop Bayer-Monsanto, ChemChina-Syngeta, and BASF from poisoning the planet and doing irreparable harm while reaping huge profits.
Ban it!
Stop poisoning us with chemicals! This administration needs to do much more for the people it represents.
Stop the use of pesticides. These kill wildlife and insects that feed on flowers.
There is no need for these pesticides.
Stop taking funds from these companies for your own pocket.
No toxic chemicals!
Stop the MADNESS!
Back in school, we had mystery meat. I don’t want mystery crops. Ban the chemicals.
Why are you protecting the chemical industry by allowing these carcinogenic products in crop production? It’s time you started protecting Americans rather than big corporations and big ag! What happened to common sense and doing your job?!!
We the people are very sick of elected officials running cover for the Big Chemical companies.
We are watching you very very closely and will actively campaign against any efforts
to continue shilling.
No Dicamba!
Apparently, the US government and the billionaires who own it are on a mission to make as many people as sick as possible.
Stop destroying our food supply and the very farmers that support our food supply in the US. Foreign countries are refusing to buy from the US, seeing destruction of our ability to sustain a healthy ecosystem for the dairy and meat industry.
All of this madness must STOP!! PERIOD! End of story.
Dicamba is proven to be dangerous and should be banned. Why is this still an issue? For the money? Shame
Anyone with an ounce of common sense will know that food should be grown organically and without herbicides, pesticides or chemicals of any kind. It’s a no brainer yet this practice continues. Hello! Is anybody there?
We must ban these toxic chemicals and grow organic. We are making America sick and destroying our environment. Please stop this madness and make America healthier and better. Amen.
Ban Dicamba! Stop poisoning our food supply. We want healthy foods not poison!
This should be a No Brainer. Leaving our children with this mess, along with all of the other BS we’ve left them with is a Selfish Act. This reminds me of when Erin Brockovitch took on PG&E for contaminating ground water in Hinkley, California. It always comes back to how much money corporations can make, regardless of the impact on the people and the communities they live in.
Ban It!!!!
What sense does it make to produce,market, and sell a toxic pesticide to American Farmers when it is killing them, their kids and even neighbors?
WHO WILL YOU SELL TOO AFTERYOU KILL ALL THE FARMERS?
Furthermore, I’m sure every exec at Pesticide creating companies, have offspring,. As you increase the pesticide sales- especially to BIgAG, the more pesticides will show up in foods that YOU ALSO EAT. What’s worse, it will show up in the bodies of you Grandchildren and potentially Kill them! Do you really CHOOSE to be complicit in your grandbabies DEATHS?
Shame, shame. shame!
Stop with toxic pesticides that kill not only humans and wildlife, but the very pollinators crops require to feed us.
Ban it and many others!!!! We need to protect our food supplies from poisons!!!
Ban It!!!!