Ok, the *”Farm” Coalition Group. Which side are you on folks?

Did you support the Senate Bill? House? Kind/Flake? Grassley/Dorgan? Ok, what you supported, did it include supply management (production controls) for wheat and other grains? None of the bills above included supply management for grain.

Did you support farm bill principles from one group or another? Did you write any letters? Make any phone calls? Was there anything about supply management?

No? Well, that’s great, says the “Farm Coalition Group.” (You’re for farms, right?)

Here’s a vintage letter (also footnoted in Al Krebs book, The Corporate Reapers. “*Farm Coalition Group

1750 K Street, NW #700, [oooops, they moved, probably to Crystal city?] October 24, 1985

Dear Senator:

For many months now, the organizations listed below have been working with Congress to develop a viable, long-term food and agriculture program for this Nation.

Given the current economic and credit situation within the farm community and its related industries, we recognize the necessity and importance of government involvement in the 1985 Farm Bill. However,
we believe that a gradual transition toward a long-term market-

oriented agriculture program is in the best interests of all — producers, suppliers, processors, consumers, and taxpayers.

It is for these reasons we urge your support in removing the mandatory wheat referendum provision in S. 1714, the Agriculture, Food, Trade and Conservation Act of 1985. We are opposed to this provision because:

1) mandatory production controls weaken U.S. agriculture’s ability to effectively compete for export markets while it encourages our competitors to increase their world market share; and,

2) higher domestic costs will exacerbate the current farm

income situation as the other segments in the food distribution chain (farm input industry, processors, livestock feeders, etc. all the way through to the consumer) modify their domestic purchases as a result.

We urge that you support the amendment to strike the referendum provision for mandatory government production controls. We would also appreciate your opposition to any other amendments establishing such a referendum.

Sincerely,

American Bakers Association, National-American Wholesale Grocers Association, American Cotton Shippers Association, American Meat Institute, National Broiler Council, Biscuit & Cracker Manufacturers’ Association of America, National Confectioners Association, Chamber of Commerce of the U. S., National Fertilizer Solutions Association, Chocolate Manufacturers Association, Farm & Industrial Equipment Institute, National Food Processors Association

Florida Phosphate Council, National Pasta Association, Food marketing Institute, Potato Chip/Snack Food Association, Independent Bakers Association, Millers’ National Federation, Ralston Purina Company, The Fertilizer Institute”

Which side were you on? Did you advocate for supply management?

Fortunately for the “Farm Coalition Group,” they don’t have to worry about such things these days. Supply management hasn’t been in the farm bill since the 1990 farm bill! Everybody is all worked up about farm subsidies instead. No need to worry.

Ok, that was 1985. Krebs listed “Most Profitable US Consumer Food Companies, 1988,” (chart p. 41, The Corporate Reapers, from Wall Street Journal, 11/7/88): Kellogg, H.J Heinz, Hershey Foods, RJR Nabisco, Quaker Oats, General Mills, Borden, Pillsbury, Kraft, General Foods, Sara Lee. More recently the National Farmers Union of Canada published “The Farm Crisis and Corporate Profits,” http://www.nfu.ca/new/corporat… Lots of record profits in 2004!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, yes! “*Farm” Subsidies!