The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) carries considerable political weight on not only Capitol Hill, but also in the fields and insurance files of America. So when the AFBF comes out against a particular legislative agenda, legislators tend to take notice. Particularly when the position of the group that describes itself as the “national voice of agriculture,” is at odds with the position of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).Kate Galbraith is reporting for the New York Times blog Green Inc. that the AFBF “has outlined a new campaign effort to derail Congressional bills to combat climate change.”
Green Inc. has apparently obtained a memo sent to state farm bureau directors from AFBF public-relations director Don Lipton. According to Green Inc., the memo reads:
Climate change bills in both the Senate and House will impact our farmers and ranchers, hit America’s consumers and impair the economy of our nation. For farmers and ranchers, it will mean higher fuel and fertilizer costs, which puts us at a competitive disadvantage in international markets with other countries that do not have similar carbon emission restrictions. For the future prosperity of the U.S. economy and American agriculture, climate change legislation must be defeated by Congress.AFBF director of grassroots and political advocacy confirmed the memo’s authenticity, according to Green Inc. ‘“Don’t CAP Our Future”’ will be the campaign slogan, and according to the memo, farm bureau state offices are being sent campaign ‘“starter kit[s].”””
“The memo urges members to place a ‘Don’t CAP Our Future’ sticker on a farmer’s cap, sign either the sticker or the cap, and hand-deliver it to a local office of the United States Senate . . . The timing is very beneficial as many state Farm Bureau annual meetings are right around the corner,’ the memo says.”Additional tactics apparently include contacting congressional offices, online petitions, and other acts of general political advocacy.
For its part, USDA has argued that proposed “cap and trade” legislation being debated in Congress will be beneficial to farmers above any initial costs.
To read the Green Inc. post click here.
Posted: 10/14/09
