RIGHT HERE IN MISSISSIPPI. ERIN. >> WELL, THE MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN COMMISSION REPORT HAS BEEN MET WITH CONCERN, NOT ONLY FROM SOME OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S HARSHEST CRITICS, BUT SOME OF HIS STRONGEST SUPPORTERS. THAT INCLUDES MISSISSIPPI SENATOR CINDY HYDE-SMITH. SHE’S ALSO A FORMER STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER. SHE SAID, QUOTE, THERE’S ENOUGH IN THE REPORT TO CAUSE PLENTY OF WORRY ABOUT HOW KEY CROP PROTECTION TOOLS WILL BE REGULATED IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, HER SUCCESSOR IS URGING FARMERS NOT TO READ TOO MUCH INTO IT RIGHT NOW. >> AND I DON’T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD FREAK OUT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ABOUT THIS REPORT. WHILE I’M AWARE OF THE CONCERNS, AND I’VE ACTUALLY READ THE REPORT, I READ THE CONCERNS. THE CONCERNS BEING THAT FARMERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GROW THE, THE, THEIR CROPS THAT THEY THEY NEED TO HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO TO KEEP DISEASE UNDER CONTROL ON A CROP. >> MISSISSIPPI AG COMMISSIONER ANDY GIBSON DOESN’T WANT FARMERS TO THINK BIG CHANGES ARE COMING RIGHT NOW. >> THIS IS NOT A KNEE JERK REACTION. THERE’S GOING TO BE A HUNDRED DAYS OF THOUGHT GIVEN TO THIS. AND I COMMEND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR TAKING THAT 100 DAY PERIOD TO LET PEOPLE DIGEST THIS, TO PUT COMMENTS INTO IT, BEFORE EVEN COMING WITH A POLICY RECOMMENDATION. >> GIBSON SAYS. BASED ON CONVERSATIONS HE’S HAD WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE FOCUS IS ON FINDING WAYS TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES. IT’S AN EFFORT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS URGED STATES TO JOIN THEM IN. THAT’S WHY GIBSON’S OFFICE IS LAUNCHING A NEW MAKE MISSISSIPPI HEALTHY AGAIN CAMPAIGN, AIMED AT GETTING MORE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY KIDS, CONNECTED TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD. >> SO IT’S NOT LIKE WE HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL HERE. WE’RE JUST PIVOTING TO ADDING THE NUTRITION CONTENT. >> THE DEPARTMENT HAS CREATED A NEW WEBSITE THAT POINTS PEOPLE TO THE PLACES WHERE FRESH FOOD IS AVAILABLE. IT’S ALSO WORKING TO EXPAND THE EXISTING FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM. >> BLUEBERRIES. MORE MISSISSIPPI BUTTER BEANS AND PEAS, THINGS THAT ARE HEALTHY THAT YOU KNOW, THE THE ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE EATING NOW ARE CONTRIBUTING TO A LOT OF HEALTH CONCERNS. SO IT’S REALLY COMMON SENSE TO GET BACK TO EATING FRESH, LOCALLY SOURCED, FARM RAISED FOOD PRODUCTS. >> NOW, IF YOU WANT A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT THE MAKE OF AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN REPORT SAYS ABOUT AGRICULTURE, MEDICINE AND A WIDE RANGE
Gipson urges calm over Trump report, promotes local produce for healthier lifestyles
Updated: 6:28 PM CDT May 23, 2025
The Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again report has prompted reactions from Mississippi officials, including concerns about future regulations on crop protection tools and initiatives to promote healthier lifestyles. “There is enough in the report to cause plenty of worry about how key crop protection tools will be regulated in the future,” said U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a former Mississippi agriculture commissioner.Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson is urging farmers not to overreact to the report. “I don’t think people should freak out one way or another about this report. I’m aware of the concerns and I’ve actually read the report. I read the concerns being that farmers will not actually be able to grow their crops that they need to have, for example, to keep disease under control on a crop,” Gipson said. “This is not a knee jerk reaction. There’s going to be 100 days of thought given to this, and I commend the Trump administration for taking that 100-day period to let people digest this, to put comments to it before even coming with a policy recommendation.” Gipson said discussions with the Trump administration have focused on promoting healthier lifestyles, an effort the Food and Drug Administration is encouraging states to join.In response, Gipson’s office is launching a Make Mississippi Healthy Again campaign to connect more people, especially children, to fresh, healthy food. “It’s not like we have to reinvent the wheel here. We’re just pivoting to add the nutrition content,” Gipson said. The department has created a new website to guide consumers to places where fresh foods are available and is working to expand the existing farm-to-school program.”Blueberries, more Mississippi butter beans and peas, things that are healthy that the ultra-processed foods that so many people are eating now are contributing to a lot of health concerns. So it’s really common sense to get back to eating fresh, local sourced, farm-raised food products,” Gipson said.
The Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again report has prompted reactions from Mississippi officials, including concerns about future regulations on crop protection tools and initiatives to promote healthier lifestyles.
“There is enough in the report to cause plenty of worry about how key crop protection tools will be regulated in the future,” said U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a former Mississippi agriculture commissioner.
Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson is urging farmers not to overreact to the report.
“I don’t think people should freak out one way or another about this report. I’m aware of the concerns and I’ve actually read the report. I read the concerns being that farmers will not actually be able to grow their crops that they need to have, for example, to keep disease under control on a crop,” Gipson said. “This is not a knee jerk reaction. There’s going to be 100 days of thought given to this, and I commend the Trump administration for taking that 100-day period to let people digest this, to put comments to it before even coming with a policy recommendation.”
Gipson said discussions with the Trump administration have focused on promoting healthier lifestyles, an effort the Food and Drug Administration is encouraging states to join.
In response, Gipson’s office is launching a Make Mississippi Healthy Again campaign to connect more people, especially children, to fresh, healthy food.
“It’s not like we have to reinvent the wheel here. We’re just pivoting to add the nutrition content,” Gipson said.
The department has created a new website to guide consumers to places where fresh foods are available and is working to expand the existing farm-to-school program.
“Blueberries, more Mississippi butter beans and peas, things that are healthy that the ultra-processed foods that so many people are eating now are contributing to a lot of health concerns. So it’s really common sense to get back to eating fresh, local sourced, farm-raised food products,” Gipson said.