ASA, CSSA, and SSSA support PFAS recommendations

Representing the research perspective, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA have joined 16 other agricultural organizations in a PFAS and Agriculture Working Group to develop the nation’s first comprehensive set of federal recommendations to address PFAS contamination of agricultural land. The recommendations call upon Congress and the executive branch to take pragmatic steps to address PFAS in order to protect farmers and their families, keep farms and ranches in business, maintain a safe national food supply, and safeguard our nation’s farmland for future generations. Recommendations include:

• Congress, USDA, and the Department of Defense should provide health, financial, and technical support to PFAS-impacted farmers and ranchers.
• USEPA should protect farmers from unreasonable liability and third-party lawsuits under CERCLA (commonly known as “Superfund”).
• USEPA and USDA should reduce additional PFAS contamination of agricultural land.
• Congress, USDA, and other federal agencies should coordinate and invest in PFAS research.
• USDA and other federal agencies should implement a coordinated education and risk communications strategy.

Read the full report here.

Participation in this effort was supported by the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA PFAS Working Group. Society members with an interest in participating in this working group can reach out to Luther Smith for more information.