For decades, farmers across Michigan have relied on paraquat to clear fields, unaware of the hidden cost: their health. Now, heartbreaking stories are emerging—like that of Paul Friday, a peach farmer from Coloma who sprayed paraquat for years before being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He’s not alone. Across the country, thousands of farmers and rural residents are coming forward with similar diagnoses. Many are suing the pesticide’s manufacturers, alleging they failed to warn users of the severe neurological risks.

Despite paraquat being banned in over 70 countries—including China and the UK—it remains legal in the U.S. Michigan continues to allow its use, putting more farmers, farmworkers, and neighboring communities at risk. Scientific research has increasingly linked paraquat exposure to Parkinson’s, with some studies finding that farmworkers and people living near sprayed fields face significantly higher risks. Even secondhand exposure can be dangerous.

The EPA has called paraquat one of the most toxic herbicides still in use today, and the CDC requires it to be dyed blue and mixed with a vomiting agent because of its lethal properties. But even with federal safety restrictions, accidental poisonings, chronic exposure, and tragic cases continue to be reported. Meanwhile, Parkinson’s disease is now the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world—largely due to environmental triggers like this.

We can’t wait for the federal government to act. California and Pennsylvania have already taken steps toward banning paraquat. It’s time for Michigan to lead too.

We urge the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and the Michigan Legislature to ban the use, sale, and distribution of paraquat in the state. No more lives should be put at risk when safer alternatives exist. Michigan’s farmers deserve to grow our food without sacrificing their health.

Please sign this petition to protect Michigan families from the devastating effects of paraquat. Let’s stand up for our farmers, our communities, and our right to a safe environment.

Photo: Rose White / mlive.com