Farmers Celebrate Passage of New Georgia Bill
In a resounding win for Georgia’s farming community, Governor Brian Kemp has officially signed Senate Bill 144 (SB 144) into law, solidifying the state’s alignment with science-based regulatory decisions on crop protection tools. The measure has been broadly welcomed by farmers, agricultural organizations, and key industry stakeholders who see it as a critical affirmation of the role of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in determining the safety and labeling of crop protection products.
Georgia’s agricultural leaders and farm supporters hailed the signing as a landmark move that ensures science—not politics or misinformation—guides the use and labeling of vital agricultural inputs. The legislation reinforces that EPA’s extensive and peer-reviewed regulatory decisions remain the standard for determining the safety and appropriate usage of such tools, including herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides essential to modern farming.
A Voice of Support from the Industry
Brian Naber, President of Crop Science North America & Australia/New Zealand Region at Bayer, was among the leading voices in applauding the passage of SB 144. In a statement, he emphasized the importance of the new law for maintaining farmers’ access to critical agricultural innovations.
“The signing of SB 144 by Governor Kemp demonstrates that Georgia stands with its farmers, who work tirelessly to produce safe and affordable food for communities throughout the state,” Naber stated. “We thank Governor Kemp and the legislators, farmers, and agricultural groups that supported this important piece of legislation.”
He also noted Bayer’s ongoing commitment to agricultural innovation. “At Bayer, we are committed to developing agricultural innovations that help farmers thrive. This is important not only for Georgia’s farmers and American agriculture, but also for everyday Americans concerned about rising grocery costs,” he said. “When crop protection tools are taken off the table, it becomes harder and more expensive to grow food. That burden inevitably falls on consumers.”
Why SB 144 Matters
SB 144 is more than a symbolic gesture—it has substantial implications for regulatory consistency and legal clarity. The law effectively reinforces the authority of the EPA, the agency charged with conducting thorough, science-based evaluations of agricultural chemicals. It safeguards the scientific integrity of EPA-approved product labels, protecting them from being overridden or misrepresented by state-level interpretations or legal challenges not grounded in regulatory science.
By aligning state policy with federal regulatory decisions, SB 144 also supports the continued availability of crop protection tools deemed safe by the EPA, including glyphosate-based herbicides. These herbicides have become essential tools in managing weeds, one of the greatest threats to crop yields and farm profitability.
Impact on Farmers and the Food Supply
Georgia’s agriculture sector contributes over $91 billion annually to the state’s economy and supports thousands of jobs. The ability to access and responsibly use crop protection products is central to maintaining that economic output.
Without such tools, farmers would face increased challenges in managing pests, weeds, and diseases. That could lead to reduced crop yields, higher production costs, and diminished sustainability due to increased tillage or repeated applications of alternative chemicals. Ultimately, that translates into higher food prices for consumers.
For example, glyphosate-based herbicides have enabled the widespread adoption of conservation tillage practices, which reduce soil erosion, preserve soil health, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. These practices are pillars of sustainable agriculture and play a role in combating climate change. Removing access to glyphosate could force farmers to revert to more aggressive mechanical weed control methods, undermining environmental progress.
Scientific Consensus on Glyphosate
Over the years, glyphosate has undergone intense scientific scrutiny. Regulatory agencies around the globe, including the EPA, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), and Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), have consistently concluded that glyphosate can be used safely when label instructions are followed.
Despite this, glyphosate has been at the center of numerous legal battles and public debates, often driven by conflicting interpretations of scientific studies or by courts operating outside the realm of scientific regulatory agencies. SB 144 aims to put a stop to that inconsistency in Georgia by ensuring that the science-led determinations of the EPA govern labeling and usage, not courtrooms or legislatures acting without proper scientific consultation.
Legal Certainty and the Road Ahead
While the courts ultimately have the final say on how legislation is applied, industry leaders hope SB 144 will strengthen legal certainty when it comes to labeling and liability. By codifying the authority of the EPA’s determinations, Georgia aims to protect the integrity of product labeling from being arbitrarily changed or interpreted in ways that diverge from scientific consensus.
“We hope the courts will apply this legislation appropriately,” Bayer’s Naber added. “Ultimately, it will be up to the courts to interpret the law, but we’re optimistic that it will reinforce the legal certainty surrounding claims about EPA-approved labels.”
This legal clarity is particularly important for manufacturers, distributors, and farmers who rely on consistent labeling to guide safe and lawful use of crop protection products. Deviations from federal labeling standards not only cause confusion but may also open the door to costly litigation and hinder access to safe, effective tools.
Broad Support from Georgia’s Agricultural Community
The success of SB 144 reflects a broad coalition of support, uniting lawmakers, commodity groups, agricultural scientists, and Georgia’s farming families. Their advocacy underscores how vital sound regulatory policy is to the health of the state’s agriculture industry.
“This legislation would not have been possible without the active engagement of Georgia’s agricultural community,” said a spokesperson for a leading Georgia commodity organization. “By passing SB 144, Georgia lawmakers have sent a powerful message that our state values science, supports farmers, and believes in a strong and consistent regulatory framework.”
