Organic farmers like Bob Quinn seldom witness victories in farm bill discussions, making Thursday’s U.S. House vote against a proposed ban on state-level cancer warnings for pesticides a welcome surprise. The Kamut farmer from Big Sandy, Montana, was prepared for the pesticide industry’s influence to prevail. “They have so much power and influence,” Quinn commented. “I take my hat off to those representatives who stood up to that.”
The bipartisan decision removed language from the 2026 farm bill that would have stopped states from requiring pesticide labels, passing 280-142, with 13 abstaining. Seventy-three Republicans joined to lift the prohibition, while six Democrats sided with most Republicans to keep states from mandating these labels, showcasing the complexity of food politics.
Currently, the EPA manages pesticide warning labels, but a Supreme Court case questions whether states should mandate cancer warnings when the EPA does not. The six Democrats opposing state labels hail from agriculture-heavy states that use intensive pesticides, with three on the House Agriculture Committee.
Montana’s Representatives Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing, both Republicans, voted to ban state labels. Montana’s last Agriculture Committee member was Steve Daines in 2013. Zinke’s staff stated he believed the bill had a better chance with the ban included. Downing’s office provided no comment.
Following the vote, Health and Human Services-aligned representatives, particularly Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, celebrated the amendment’s success. Luna stated that without removing the ban, pesticide companies would avoid accountability for health issues. “Pesticides are linked to a 30% increase in childhood cancer,” Luna emphasized on social media, citing significant research.
Montana ranks low in pesticide use per acre, as per the U.S. Geological Survey, due to fewer genetically engineered crops. The state is third in wheat production, with no approved “Roundup Ready” wheat for sale. Canola, at 190,000 acres, is the largest Roundup Ready crop.
The farm bill’s future remains uncertain, with the Senate Agriculture Committee yet to schedule a review. Quinn hopes for enduring opportunities for state pesticide warnings to reduce pesticide use. “We have glyphosate in our rain, that is enough already,” he remarked. The House finally passed the farm bill 224-200 after amendments.
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