1. FARM BUREAU DISTORTS "DEAD ZONE" ISSUE 

According to an August 9th press release, a coalition of groups is calling for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) to "stop distorting the issue of hypoxia in the Gulf." (commonly known as the ‘Dead Zone.’) The coalition, called Mississippi Riverwise Partnership, charges that a recent campaign by the AFBF is confusing the issue of what is causing the "Dead Zone." The coalition’s press release states there "is a strong consensus among scientists conducting research on Gulf hypoxia that loading of nutrients, in particular nitrogen, is the driving force behind the problem." The AFBF denies this conclusion and, instead of reducing nitrogen pollution, recommends reducing water flow in the Mississippi by cutting "off the flow of the Atchafalaya River, the western branch of the Mississippi." Meanwhile, telling investigations into Farm Bureau insurance company portfolios show significant investments in chemical manufacturers and factory animal feedlots - both major sources of nitrogen loading in water supplies.

2. FARM POLICY THAT WORKS FOR THE EARTH

In a display of leadership that ought to inspire their US counterparts, the Canadian National Farmers Union has unveiled a solution to the low prices farmers currently receive - a solution with very real environmental benefits. According to a Canadian NFU press release (8/15/00), "The plan is for the world's five major grain exporters - Canada, the U.S., the European Union (EU), Argentina, and Australia, to take 3% of their land out of production, each year, until the price of grain doubles." Such "production management tools" will be vociferously attacked by corporate agribusinesses who profit handsomely from the low prices and increased pesticide and chemical sales spurred by over-production. Progressive environmental leaders are beginning to recognize that farm policies which stimulate "over production" cause unnecesary soil tillage, result in increased pesticide and nutrient loading in water supplies, and cause significant farm related wildlife deaths.

3. FARM BUREAU - "FAT CAT LOBBYING"

Award winning ag journalist Alan Guebert recently reported that even in the midst of the farm crisis, "one sector of the agricultural economy--influence peddling--is growing faster than a falsetto- voiced steer on steroids." In his weekly column "Farm and Food File", Guebert analyzed statistics by the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) which track a big increase in political lobbying by corporate agribusiness. Guebert noted that agribusiness PAC’s (Political Action Committee’s) during the 1997-1998 election cycle totaled $43.3 million. "One fat farm lobbying cat," says Guebert, "was the American Farm Bureau Federation, which spent $4.56 million. AFBF paid $200,000 to the Washington, D.C. law firm Mayer, Brown & Platt, which, incidentally, is Cargill's law firm, also." According to Guebert’s list the Farm Bureau was the big spender at $4.56 million. Even Monsanto ran second to the Farm Bureau with contributions of a measly $4 million.

4. ORGANIC BALONEY

Readers may have heard recently that ABC’s TV show 20/20 was forced to retract incorrect statements they made regarding "organic" vs. "conventional" foods. In a highly controversial piece that aired in February and again in July of this year, 20/20's John Stossel reported that conventional food did not necessarily have more pesticides than organic food. He also reported that organic food contained dangerous strains of e-coli (bacteria). Both statements were erroneous and ABC recently (August 9th) aired a correction. Of the incident, media watchdog group FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) said, "According to new revelations published in the New York Times on July 31, ABC's John Stossel may have fabricated evidence and distorted facts..." The organic and food safety communities have been outraged with Stossel’s remarks and there is speculation he was speaking as a "shill for the chemical companies." According to the New York Times article, Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, was cited as saying that he was not satisfied with ABC's correction, stating, about Stossel, "He's not a contrarian, he's a counterfeiter who'll do anything for ratings. He needs to be fired."