Hi Folks,

We all know that Farm Bureau Federation leadership has stood against just about everything good for the environment - from wildlife to wetlands, from climate change to clean water regulations. We have come to know Farm Bureau leadership does not even support their own family farmers and ranchers in creating supportive farm policy which would give family farmers an even chance against Big AG and corporate concentration. We know Farm Bureau lobbies against protections for farm workers, will not support precautionary principles involving GMO's, resists ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment for Women and even has a policy in their handbook calling for the repeal of the 1965 Voters Rights Act!

Why is the leadership of this multi-billion dollar insurance and agribusiness organization, which critics call the most elusive business shell game in America today afforded a "special" tax privilege as a "farm organization?" We don’t know. We believe it is time for a change. Please consider signing the letter below calling for a federal investigation into the American Farm Bureau Leadership. Broadcast this information far and wide. Lets do something good for this country. To sign on reply to sjohnson@albq.defenders.org.

BACKGROUND

Thirty years ago a Farm Bureau-dominated agricultural subcommittee "distanced" itself from an investigation into the Farm Bureau led by Congressman Joseph Resnick (D-NY). Following this incidence Resnick’s chief of staff Samuel "Sandy" Berger, the current Chief of the National Security Council wrote, "the Farm Bureau is far more than simply an organization of farmers, as it so often claims. The nation’s biggest farm organization has been quietly but 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."

Today, the Farm Bureau is more powerful than ever. The policies it advances and its myriad business operations are crippling the farmer, rural America and the environment. We believe it is time for another investigation. Moreover, we believe Farm Bureau leaders should welcome any and all opportunities to erase allegations they do not serve their membership or uphold their non-profit charter.

Our Position

WHEREAS, We the undersigned individuals and organizations represent millions of Americans whose homes, livelihoods, environments, freedoms, and well-being are jeopardized by current ill-advised farm policy,

WHEREAS, we are family and independent farmers and ranchers, environmentalists, consumers, laborers, religious & minority leaders, taxpayers, hunters, fisherman and residents of America’s heartlands,

WHEREAS, we believe many agricultural trade and commodity groups misrepresent their interests to Congress and policy makers by posing as the family farmer while advancing agribusiness policy harmful to family farmers and the environment,

WHEREAS, we believe the farm policy advanced by these agribusiness groups promotes corporate consolidation, eliminates fair markets, and creates an un-level economic playing field for small, minority and independent family producers,

WHEREAS, we believe this model of industrialized agricultural threatens rural families and cultures, public health and farm workers, watersheds and wildlife, top-soils, and wilderness,

WHEREAS, we believe these groups advance policy that is fiscally irresponsible favoring agribusiness while costing taxpayers billions of dollars a year in continued farm aid bailouts,

WHEREAS, we believe that a socially just, environmentally and fiscally responsible farm policy will never be created as long as these groups control the agricultural agenda,

WHEREAS, we believe such groups, who receive substantial monetary benefits from the public sector should encourage and welcome scrutiny into their business operations,

WHEREAS, the American Farm Bureau Federation leadership is the most outspoken and powerful of these groups claiming to represent Rural America,

WHEREAS, American Farm Bureau Federation businesses have profited greatly from self-generated policies that afford them special tax privileges and advance national farm policies favoring agribusiness;

WHEREAS, Farm Bureau claims 4.9 million "family" members and the USDA shows fewer than 1.9 million farmers remain--and not all of them are Farm Bureau members;

WE THEREFORE, call for a congressional investigation into charges that American Farm Bureau Federation national leadership has harmed the American farmer and their own members by posing as an organization representing farmer interests when, in fact, Farm Bureau’s widespread commercial activities – which include the operation of businesses that sell to the farmer and buy from the farmer – puts them in a position of representing a point of view antagonistic to the interests of the farmer. We further call for investigation into charges that Farm Bureau leadership also misrepresents its motivations to Congress and the American taxpayer - exploiting the farmer image to win, from Congress, non-profit "privileges" that shield them from an estimated $61.75 million annually in federal income tax. We urge Congress to complete the process started a generation ago and protect rural American and its heritage.

Reply to: sjohnson@albq.defenders.org.

Scotty Johnson.