History

“President Abraham Lincoln signed into law an act of Congress establishing the United States Department of Agriculture.

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“Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act, giving USDA regulatory powers to protect Americans from unsafe food and drugs.”

“Hybrid corn produced commercially. Hybrid corn varieties allow for an increase in corn production, efficient use of applied fertilizer, and resistance to a variety of insects and diseases, leading to higher quality corn.”

“The Agricultural Insecticide and Fungicide Association forms (CropLife Americas’ original name) with headquarters in NYC.”

“Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) passed, initiating crop and marketing controls.”

“Worst drought in U.S. history commenced (Dust Bowl).

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“Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act passed.”

“Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act passed.”

“Agriculture accounts for 22% of exports.”

“Farmers make up 18% of the labor force.

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“Congress passes the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This new act broadened the power of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to regulate pesticides distributed in interstate commerce. FIFRA also required for the first time that pesticides distributed in interstate commerce be registered with the USDA and established more stringent and more detailed labeling requirements. ”

“Organic phosphate insecticides introduced.”

“Association changes name to National Agricultural Chemicals Association and moves headquarters to Washington, D.C.”

“Systemic insecticides introduced.”

“Farmers make up 12.2% of labor force.

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“Agriculture accounts for 22% of exports.”

“Agricultural Research Service created within USDA.”

“Number of tractors on farms exceeds the number horses and mules for the first time.”

“Passage of the Miller Amendment. Pesticide regulation was brought under the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act umbrella with the passage of this amendment, providing for the establishment of tolerances for pesticide residues in or on raw agricultural commodities.”

“Passage of the Delaney Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). This amendment states that “no additive shall be deemed to be safe if it is found to induce cancer when ingested by man or animal, or if it is found, after tests which are appropriate for the evaluation of the safety of food additives, to induce cancer in man or animal.” ”

“Farmers make up 8.3% of labor force.

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“Silent Spring published; written by Rachel Carson, biologist and staff writer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.”

“IR-4 Program established at Rutgers University to support registration of pesticides for minor crop uses.”

“First field test of automated irrigation system performed.”

“Food Stamp Act and War on Poverty signed, introducing numerous programs designed to improve the American quality of life for those struggling to make ends meet.”

“Food and Agriculture Act of 1965 passed. This was the first multiyear farm legislation that provided for four year commodity programs for wheat, feed grains, and upland cotton ”

“NACA and eight European national agrichemical associations form a new federation, Groupement International des Associations Nationales de Fabricants de Pesticides (GIFAP), headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, to present a unified crop pesticide viewpoint to supranational agencies such as the European Economic Community, the Council of Europe, the United Nations, and through these agencies, to the developing nations and their governments. ”

“One of the first seed treatment fungicides approved for use. ”

“Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues formed. ”

“83% of all farms have phones and 98.4% have electricity”

“Norman Borlaug receives Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his contributions to world peace through increasing food supply. ”

“First celebration of Earth Day.”

“The Environmental Protection Agency formed. EPA’s major responsibilities were to include the registration and regulation of pesticide chemicals (formerly the responsibility of the USDA) and setting tolerances for crop pesticides (formerly a function of the Food and Drug Administration). ”

“Farmers make up 4.6% of labor force.”

“Agriculture accounts for 19% of exports.”

“Major corn disease crisis requires revamping of hybrid corn production.”

“Passage of the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act, amending FIFRA to empower EPA to perform its vital tasks and provided for additional protection for humans and the environment via registration based largely on toxicological data; certification of applicators; classification of uses of pesticides, and an extended EPA authority in matters relating to intrastate commerce. ”

“Clean Water Act enacted, establishing the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters.”

“Endangered Species Act passed, providing a sustainability program for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found.

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“FIFRA amended, authorizing the EPA Administrator to fix the terms of payment when registrants could not reach an agreement under the law’s compensation provisions. They also authorized the creation of an EPA Scientific Advisory Panel and established procedures for consultation between EPA and USDA on issuance of proposed and final pesticide policy.”

“FIFRA amended, providing for an exclusive-use period of 10 years and a 15-year period of entitlement for the compensation of data used by others to register their own product. ”

“Biotechnology became a viable technique for improving crop and livestock products.”

“First American GMO patent.”

“Farmers make up 3.4% of labor force.”

“Agriculture accounts for 15% of exports.”

“More farmers use no-till or low-till methods to curb erosion.”

“FIFRA 88 enacted which mandated accelerated reregistration of pesticides; precipitated minor use “crisis”; established maintenance fees for pesticide product registrations.”

“Scientists warned that the possibility of global warming may affect the future viability of American farming.”

“One of the worst droughts in the nation’s history hits midwestern farmers.”

“More farmers began to use low-input sustainable agriculture techniques to decrease chemical applications.”

“Information technology and precision techniques increasingly used in agriculture.”

“Agriculture makes up 9.5% of exports.”

“Organic Food Production Act established as part of the 1990 Farm Bill. This Act authorizes uniform national standards for the production and handling of foods labeled as “organic.” ”

“1990 Farm Bill established Pesticide Data Program in USDA.”

“Genetically engineered crops and livestock introduced to commercial production.

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“Farmers make up 2.6% of labor force.”

“RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) formed to represent the interests of specialty pesticides (golf courses, home use, etc.) manufacturers, distributors, and users. ”

“North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) established among US, Canada, and Mexico, lowering trade barriers and enhancing export prospects.”

“NACA became the American Crop Protection Association (ACPA).”

“The first genetically engineered corn plant with Bt genes was registered with the EPA. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops are plants genetically engineered (modified) to contain the endospore (or crystal) toxins of the bacterium, Bt to be resistant to certain insect pests, allowing for increased crop yields, reduced pesticide use, less environmental damage, less fungal contamination, and reduced labor.”

“Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) amends FIFRA and FFDCA, mandating a health-based standard for pesticide residues in foods, providing special protection for babies and infants; repealing Delaney Clause; setting timelines for completion of reregistration and tolerance reassessment; initiating registration review.”

“Agricultural exports set record at $60.4 billion.”

“Herbicide tolerant crops introduced, enabling low-till/no-till crop production.”

“USDA unveils organic standards and official organic seal, as first authorized in 1990 farm bill.”

“Farmers making up 1.5% of the labor force.”

“Agricultural exports comprised 7% of total exports.”

“ACPA became CropLife America.”

“Researchers at the USDA discovered a peanut variety that lacks a major allergen, in hopes that a hypoallergenic peanut can be created. ”

“CropLife America partners with environmental groups and industry allies to help pass The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA), legislation that improves the pesticide registration process with the EPA and provides funding for worker safety and conservation programs.”

“Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act enacted, amending the National School Lunch Act to encourage improved access to local foods in schools.”

“Agricultural exports comprised 8% of total exports.”

“The Energy Policy Act enacted to increase biofuels research funding and provide incentives for the use of clean, renewable energy.”

“Colony Collapse Disorder affecting honey bees first reported by apiarists.”

“Global food crisis hits, spurred by the increased demand for biofuels, which drove up the price of corn and soybeans; higher oil prices; poor weather that decreased wheat production in Ukraine, Australia, and Argentina; bans on various exports and panic buying, especially for rice exports which experienced global price increases from $350 to $1,000; and the falling value of the US dollar.”

“PRIA is updated.”

“Agricultural exports comprised 10% of total exports.”

“FDA Food Safety Modernization Act enacted, granting the FDA the power to conduct mandatory recalls and issue guidance documents to reduce incidents of foodborne illnesses.”

“PRIA is updated.”

“ First self-driving tractor unveiled. ”

“First GMO potatoes became available commercially for farmers to grow.

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“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established by the United Nations General Assembly, are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all” and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.”

“The use of drones in agriculture is on the rise.”

“The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard established a national law that food or ingredients that have been “bioengineered” must be disclosed.”

“The first GMO apple, named the “Arctic Apple” became commercially available.”

“United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a free trade agreement concluded between Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is created as a successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement. ”

“PRIA is updated.”

“The Green New Deal (GND) is introduced and is a set of proposed programs that have set the goals of cutting emissions, promoting renewable power, and supporting more sustainable food systems so that everyone has access to healthy food and clean water.”

“U.S. jobs directly related to food and agriculture, including direct farming and ranching, manufacturing and wholesale and retail functions represent approximately 15 percent of all U.S. employment.

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“Coronavirus pandemic hits.”

“CropLife America moves headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Arlington, VA, co-locating with the Agricultural Retailers Association, The Fertilizer Institute, RISE, CPDA.”