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North Dakota farmers are feeling a sense of unease about Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which targets seed oils like sunflower and canola oils–key agricultural products in the state. During a Fargo roundtable with Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins last week, crop representatives expressed concern about Kennedy’s campaign against what he calls the “Hateful Eight” oils. John Sandbakken of the National Sunflower Association urged Rollins, who serves on Kennedy’s MAHA Commission, to advocate against “misinformation.” Tim Mickelson, U.S. Canola Association president, said this consumer sentiment shift comes alongside market challenges from potential Canadian tariffs, which caused prices to drop 20% in March during planting decisions. North Dakota led U.S. canola production with 2.1 million acres in 2024, and could see a 20% reduction in planted acreage this year. The American Heart Institute supports seed oil, advocating particularly for canola oil’s low saturated fat content, contrary to Kennedy’s promotion of beef tallow.
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