Idaho Statesman Opinion: Frivolous lawsuits threaten Roundup use and Idaho mining. We must put them to an end

July 28, 2024

By: Sen Mark Harris

Idaho’s future is inherently tied to the health and prosperity of its local industries, especially agriculture and natural resources. These industries are the backbone of our economy, providing well-paying jobs and ensuring economic security for our communities. This security, however, is under threat. Frivolous lawsuits spearheaded by extremist environmental groups and trial lawyers have put hundreds of jobs in my district at risk, along with threatening the livelihoods of countless farmers and ranchers across the entire state of Idaho. This is unacceptable, and as an Idaho State Senator and multi-generational farmer and rancher, I am committed to finding solutions that protect our agricultural community, promote our natural resources, and prioritize the safety and prosperity of all Idahoans.

In the past legislative session, I was proud to sponsor a bill designed to reinforce common-sense laws, close legal loopholes, and protect Idaho’s critical agriculture and mining industries. Suppose elitist trial lawyers succeed in their agenda. In that case, we will be forced to rely on China and other countries that are not favorable to us for essential inputs for agricultural products, which will jeopardize Idaho jobs, our food security and our national security. Idaho’s importance in the natural resources sector cannot be overstated. It is home to the only elemental phosphorus production in the Western Hemisphere. This phosphorus is a key ingredient in glyphosate, the active component in the widely used herbicide Roundup.

The ore used to produce elemental phosphorus is mined near my farm and ranch in the Soda Springs area of Southeastern Idaho, where the P4 phosphate mine and elemental phosphorus plant provide hundreds of jobs and contribute millions to the tax base, including $60 million annually in local vendor spending. This operation is a cornerstone of our local economy, helping to support Idaho families and communities. Glyphosate is essential for our agricultural productivity. It is used for weed control in the production of key commodities such as potatoes, alfalfa, barley, and sugar beets. Without glyphosate, we would face lower yields and higher production costs, threatening our farmers’ livelihoods and everyone’s food security. Glyphosate has also enabled conservation practices like reduced soil tillage, which is used on over 43% of commodity acres in Idaho, promoting sustainable farming methods. Trial lawyers across the country are suggesting that glyphosate is carcinogenic despite extensive evidence to the contrary. If these efforts succeed, it will create significant uncertainty about the availability of glyphosate-based products for farmers.

Glyphosate has been repeatedly deemed safe by leading health regulators worldwide, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Chemicals Agency. These agencies have concluded that glyphosate poses no risk to human health when used as directed and is not carcinogenic. The stakes are high. Endless litigation over glyphosate risks putting Idaho’s elemental phosphorus production out of business, leaving us dependent on foreign sources, particularly China, for our agricultural needs. It also creates significant risk and uncertainty for our farmers and ranchers’ ability to access glyphosate-based products and the many crucial benefits they provide, both economically and environmentally. We must act now to protect Idahoans from extremist agendas that threaten our economy and communities. To address the concerns, I have supported legislation that ensures our farmers can access essential products without the constant threat of baseless lawsuits, and I am committed to supporting policy that safeguards Idahoans from these threats. By reinforcing common-sense laws and protecting our critical industries, we can ensure a prosperous future for Idaho. Let us stand together to defend our economy and our way of life from those who seek to undermine them.