--- begin forwarded text From: "Scotty Johnson" <[log in to unmask]> To: "(Farm Bureau Investigation}" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Mon, 8 May 2000 13:22:53 -0700 Subject: Bureau Leaders: Backpaddling the River Denial Reply-to: [log in to unmask] GREEN Rural UPdates! Providing key information on recent developments in rural America, including updates on the Farm Bureau and salient issues converging around water quality, farm sustainablility and the protection of biodiversity FARM BUREAU: BACK-PADDLING THE RIVER DENIAL May 3, 2000 In his most recent “Presidents Column” American Farm Bureau’s new leader Bob Stallman refuses to answer allegations recently exposed regarding Farm Bureau leadership. Instead, Mr. Stallman is now claiming a “smear campaign” against the Farm Bureau by Defenders of Wildlife and “60 Minutes.” (AFB WEB) This claim comes on the heels of recent investigative reports alleging Farm Bureau leadership has abandoned family farmers for big agribusiness. (CBS Press Release) Ironically, Mr. Stallman names the article, “Farm Bureau Prefers High Road to Gutter.” What follows not only misses the “high” road by a country mile, it neglects to answer key allegations about a pattern of profit-taking by Bureau leaders and presidents. Instead of walking the high road, Mr. Stallman seems to be back-paddling the “River Denial.” In a cleverly worded piece that combines thinly veiled accusations with rhetoric, Farm Bureau’s new leader writes, “Our record of success attracts attention. Most of the time that's good. But, increasingly, Farm Bureau has become the subject of false comments, halftruths, baseless gossip and outright malicious lies.” Apart from Mr. Stallman’s misleading insinuations that allegations of profit-taking were somehow lies or gossip, someone should remind him it is a bad time to claim success in farm policy. In fact, agriculture could be in the middle of its worst depression ever. This slump is not an accident of economies, or bad weather. This depression is directly linked to failed farm policy advanced largely by Farm Bureau’s powerful lobby. Policies that clearly benefit agribusiness while the family farmer flounders. Moreover, if you study your history of agricultural policy, you will see that Farm Bureau has reigned supreme over all farm groups for the last four to nine decades. Throughout this time, America’s system of family farmers has been eroding faster than our precious soils. The only agricultural sector doing well today is corporate agribusiness. Farmers must remember this is no coincidence. So when Mr. Stallman talks of successes he means the successes of agribusiness. Because, when it comes to farm policy, Farm Bureau leadership has failed family farmers. Just look how few family farmers are left. Mr. Stallman is refusing to admit that Farm Bureau leaders have an unresolvable problem on their hands. One that will haunt them from here into eternity - it is called a conflict of interest. Recent reports revealed Farm Bureua is tightly entangled in a web of for- profit businesses who buy from, sell to, and often undermine family farmers. As a result they advance policy that benefits agribusiness over family agriculture. In fact, the only time they push policy good for family agriculture is when it is also good for agribusiness. What the Farm Bureau president is not telling us is that recent reports only outline, like the tip of an iceberg, the huge interlocking combine of farm bureau related agribusinesses. This conflict of interest will not be ignored by Farm Bureau farmers. It reaches into the highest tentacles of corporate agribusiness. How can the family farmer compete with the likes of ADM, Premium Standard Farms, ConAgra, Phillip Morris? Farm Bureau is linked with all of these and many more. Yet, instead of addressing these growing concerns, Mr. Stallman seems more intent on using an age old diversionary tactic - Don’t like the message? Attack the messenger. In his column, Mr. Stallman tries to discredit these investigative reports as “gossip, half-truths and lies.” He does not mention this research was done by some of the most competent and respected journalists in America today. Mike Wallace’s is certainly one of the most highly acclaimed journalists of this century. And the integrity of “60 Minutes” productions is virtually untarnished. Moreover, the principal author for Defenders report, Vicki Monks, is herself a highly respected independent journalist. She is not an employee of Defenders and backs this report with her ample reputation. When Mr. Stallman and other Farm Bureau leaders talk of collusion between “60 Minutes” and “Defenders,” one has to chuckle. Defenders of Wildlife, while the fastest growing environmental outfit in America today, is a David compared to the Farm Bureau Goliath. The Farm Bureau “combine” has an annual income base roughly 1000 times larger than Defenders. When you talk about aggregate Farm Bureau assets, no one really knows. Why don’t Farm Bureau leaders talk about their profits from stock ptions? Why don’t they reveal their for-profit businesses? Why don’t they try to divest themselves of conflicts of interest? Why doesn’t Mr. Stallman talk about his business interests as Chairman of the Board for the new BanCorp Farm Bureau Banking system. Why don’t Farm Bureaus talk about their oil refineries, their media investments, their chemical, pesticide, biotech and livestock investments? Why? Because their farmer members would have a fit. With all the back-paddling and denial, Farm Bureau members are getting increasingly dissatisfied. For many members, the recent allegations simply cement suspicions they have had for years. One farmer wrote saying, “I have known about these bums for nearly 45 years. Thanks for exposing them.” Current National Security Council Chief Sandy Berger said it best. “Farm Bureau cannot serve two masters.” (Dollar Harvest) The question their leadership must answer is - Who will they choose to serve - their farmer members or their corporate stockholders? __________ Scotty Johnson Rural Outreach Coordinator GREEN (GrassRoots Environmental Effectiveness Network) <[log in to unmask]> P.O Box 1901 Tucson, AZ 85702-1901 (520) 623 9653 Ext. 3 Fax: (520) 623 0447 --- end forwarded text -- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rex L. 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