CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – A coalition of six national farm groups has asked U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to weigh the impact on U.S. farmers as she reviews a petition by Corteva Agriscience that would place tariffs on imports of the herbicide, 2,4-D, from China and India.

“Restricting imports of 2,4-D will have wide-ranging consequences for farmers,” the coalition’s July 12 letter to Raimondo said. “American farmers cannot solely rely on Corteva, which is the only domestic supplier of 2,4-D, because there is not enough supply to meet demand.”

According to the EPA, 2,4-D (or 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) is a widely used herbicide that controls broadleaf weeds, and has been used as a pesticide since the 1940s.  

The national farm groups signing the letter include the National Corn Growers Association, the American Soybean Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the National Barley Growers Association, National Sorghum Producers, and the U.S. Durum Growers Association.

Corteva Agriscience recently filed petitions with the International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of 2,4-D from China and India.

Corteva alleges that highly subsidized imports are being dumped into the U.S. at less than fair market value, while cutting into Corteva’s U.S. market share for the herbicide.

Sydney Lundberg, National Sorghum Producers manager of policy and analysis in Lubbock, Texas, told Farm World, “Limiting imports would lead to significant supply shortages and increased input costs at a time when sorghum farmers are grappling with rising expenses, and declining overall commodity prices.

“A strained supply would lead to reduced resources and weed control in sorghum, negatively impacting productivity and economic stability for our growers,” she said. “These detrimental effects must be considered when calculating duties (tariffs) to avoid imposing an undue burden on American sorghum producers.”

The USDA said it projects total farm production cash expenses for 2024 at a record-high level, while at the same time, crop values are declining; total cash receipts in nominal value for crops in 2024 will be 11.7 percent lower than in 2022, the agency added.

“Farmers are unable to incur additional costs in what is already a period of tight margins,” the letter said. “This case has the potential to forcibly cause farmers to cut budgets, which will impact their ability to have successful yields, and will further disrupt the economic health of local economies.”

The letter said U.S. farmers depend on timely and affordable access to herbicides for their growing season.

“The 2,4-D herbicides are widely used by corn, soybean, wheat, barley, sorghum, and durum growers across the United States, as well as in residential lawn and garden care,” the letter said.

While these national farm groups said they are appreciative that companies like Corteva have invested in new technologies like seed traits and herbicides that allow them to be efficient producers, “the reality is that farmers need options from a variety of suppliers to meet their individual needs.

“Because farmers depend on timely access to inputs during planting and harvesting seasons, this case can be very disruptive to our affected growers,” the letter said. “Affirmative findings in these investigations will cause farmers to be saddled with supply shortages and delays, significant financial strain, and lower yields.

“We implore you not to do this,” the letter to Raimondo concluded. “The harm claimed by Corteva does not compare to the harm that America’s growers will incur should you apply high duties (tariffs) to these imports.”

The U.S. Department of Commerce is expected to issue the preliminary tariff rates in September.