PFAS in Agricultural Settings: A Growing Policy Issue
Farmland contamination with PFAS from biosolid application, irrigation with contaminated water, and proximity to industrial sites has prompted calls for federal agricultural policy responses through the Farm Bill and USDA programs.
Biosolids and Farm Bill Implications
The EPA’s proposed biosolid PFAS standards have Farm Bill implications for fertilizer programs and organic certification. Farmers who applied municipal biosolids in good faith may face crop market access restrictions if PFAS food safety limits are triggered.
USDA Research and Compensation Programs
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has funded PFAS fate-in-soils research and crop uptake studies. Proposals for USDA Emergency Conservation Program funds to compensate PFAS-affected farmers have been introduced in Congress.
Organic Certification Complications
USDA organic certification programs do not currently address PFAS soil or crop contamination, creating compliance ambiguity for organic farmers on PFAS-affected land. National Organic Standards Board deliberations on PFAS are ongoing.