FB Investigation UPdates!
July 27, 2000
This temporary list is designed to you appraised on the progress of
a grassroots call for an investigation into the leadership of the
American Farm Bureau Federation.
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1. FARM BUREAU LEADERS REGRET “60 MINUTES”
2. “DOLLAR HARVEST” ORDERING INFORMATION
3. KANSAS FARM BUREAU - OPPOSED TO GOVERNMENT?
4. NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN ON
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1. FARM BUREAU LEADERS REGRET “60 MINUTES”
The July 17th issue of PRWeek magazine featured an article on
CBS’s popular investigative documentary series "60 Minutes." In
part, the story states, "For some, like Joe Fields, who is PR
director at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)], getting
involved with “60 Minutes” was a decision he regrets. In April, the
program covered a story about the Iowa branch of the AFBF, which
was criticized by family farmers for being in the pockets of big
agribusiness companies...” "Doing the interview was more
damaging, that's my take," said Fields, who didn’t clarify what
may have been less damaging than “doing the interview.”
2. DOLLAR HARVEST - AN EXPOSE OF THE FARM BUREAU
Dollar Harvest - an expose of the American Farm Bureau has been
called the definitive work on the Farm Bureau's elusive insurance
and business structure, tax breaks and agri-business connections.
The book was written by Samuel (Sandy) Berger, now chief
security advisor for President Clinton. In this 1971 publication
Berger chronicles an earlier congressional investigation into the
Farm Bureau undertaken over thirty years ago. As one reader
commented, “Not much has changed in that time, except Farm
Bureau’s money and power has grown” This book is a must read
for anyone interested in learning more about the Farm Bureau.
"The Farm Bureau is far more than simply an organization of
farmers, as it so often claims. The nations biggest farm
organization has been quietly and systematically amassing one of
the largest business networks in America, while turning its back on
the deepening crisis of the farmers whom it supposedly
represents." (Berger 1971) Copies can be obtained by sending
$5.00 to MyndSeye -Agricultural Books. PO Box 171, The Plains,
Virginia. 20198-0171. Add $4.00 shipping and handling for single
book orders, $3.00 each for 2-5 books, $2.00 each for 6 - 10 books
and $1.00 formore than ten books. For more information contact:
[log in to unmask]
3. KANSAS FARM BUREAU - OPPOSED TO GOVERNMENT?
In Kansas a bi-partisan team of state legislators calling themselves
the “Small Farm Coalition” has been investigating the economic
woes in family farm agriculture in Kansas for nearly a year.
Apparently the Kansas FarmBureau, after failing to discredit the
coalition as “inconsequential” began “blathering about getting the
government out of farming,” says Bob Hopper in the Hays Dailey
News.( 7/27/00) Hopper writes that when this also failed the Farm
Bureau (and the Kansas Livestock Association) then “trotted out
opposition candidates who call themselves "the real champions of
the family farmer." Hopper ends the piece by saying, “Don'cha just
know how they (KFB) hate government in agriculture -- so that's
why they want to get their guys elected to government -- so they
can see that government doesn't interfere. Got that, don'cha?”
4. NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN ON
If you, or your group has not yet signed onto the call for a
congressional investigation into the leadership of the American
Farm Bureau Federation, you may do so on the web at:
<http://www.defenders.org/rural3.html>
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reply [log in to unmask]
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Scotty Johnson
Rural Community Outreach Coordinator
Defenders of Wildlife
520 623-9653 X3
Fax 520 623-0447
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Rex L. Bavousett
Photographer
University of Iowa
Our old name: University Relations - Publications
Our new name: University Communications & Outreach - Publications
100 OPL, Iowa City, IA 52242
http://www.uiowa.edu/~urpubs/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
voice: 319 384-0053
fax: 319 384-0055
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