|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
MARKET DATA, INC. (MDI) www.marketdatainc.com
feels that U.S. ag producers are under attack by various organizations and
groups who may have hidden agendas or may not be well informed on some of the
facts relating to U.S. agriculture today.
One of the foremost efforts currently underway is the website that lists
all the payments paid under the farm bill.
Their motive appears to be questionable. Following is some interesting
information on this: “The Environmental Working
Group (EWG) is a not-for-profit environmental research organization dedicated
to improving public health and protecting the environment by reducing pollution
in air, water and food. Based in Washington, D.C., and
with an office in Oakland, California, EWG conducts groundbreaking,
computer-assisted research on a variety of environmental issues. Recent EWG
research topics have included pesticides in foods, air, and water; the cutback
in energy conservation programs by California utilities; and toxic substances
in beauty products. The goal of EWG’s research is
to turn raw data into usable information. Our researchers unearth large
databases from state and federal government agencies and other sources. Then,
using their considerable computer hardware, software, and database management
expertise, EWG analysts sift through the databases to discover the relevant
information and newsworthy stories that are buried within the mountains of
data. EWG supplements its database
research and analysis with carefully targeted monitoring of chemical
contaminants in food, air and water. EWG reports and publications
have been the subject of literally thousands of news accounts, and have been
covered by virtually every major media outlet in the country, including The
New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times,
and major network news shows. EWG is
funded almost exclusively by grants from foundations. These grants vary in size
and are usually one or two years in term. Major supporters past and present
include the W. Alton Jones Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, the Pew Charitable
Trusts, the Beldon Fund, the Turner Foundation, and the Richard and Rhoda
Goldman Fund. A small but critical percentage of our funding comes from
individual donors.” SOURCE: Environmental Working Group website, General
Information, About EWG found at http://www.ewg.org SOME MIGHT ASK WHY IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP LISTING AGRICULTURE
PAYMENTS ON THEIR WEBSITE? THE ANSWER MAY BE: “Projects: EWG, long an opponent of
industrial agriculture and advocate for organic farming, is currently touting
its Farm Subsidy Database,
"containing 2.5 million names and 5 years of subsidies." The database
actually contains many conservation subsidies as well as those for the standard
subsidy crops, cotton, wheat, peanuts, sugar and tobacco. The project appears
to be aimed at creating a Farm Bill that will eliminate America's industrial
food production and replace it with subsidized "organic food"
production. SOURCE:
02/08/02 NEWS RELEASE Center files complaint with IRS against Environmental Working
Group Group calls on IRS to revoke non-profit status for unlawful
lobbying and political action. This information was obtained from http://www.undueinfluence.com/ewg.htm “ENVIRONMENTAL
WORKING GROUP:
EWG STAFF:
EWG Lobbyists: SUSANNE FLEEK
(in-house) This
information was obtained from: http://www.undueinfluence.com/ewg.htm It
appears that most of the principals of the EWG have little or NO background in
agriculture and it may well be that the claims of UNDUE INFLUENCE are solid and
that the EWG is simply doing this for funding purposes. Note that
the Joyce Foundation gave them $1,620,000 (a three year grant) in 2000 for work
on the 2002 farm bill. Note that this
amount equals $31,765 per year for each of the 17 people listed above! Speaking of Undue Influence! It is also important to note that one-third
of $1,620,000 amounted to 24% of the total income the EWG received during 2001
– source www.ActivistCash.com -
click on the Activist Groups section and move down to Environmental Working
Group. MARKET
DATA, INC. is currently working on added factual information to support U.S.
farmers and ranchers. We believe it is
past time for our industry to stand up to the constant attacks. WANT TO HELP? If so,
subscribe to our GREG’S GOSSIP for a cost of $150.00 per year for 50 weekly
marketing reports or subscribe to our FULL SERVICE PLAN and we will set aside
$25.00 of each subscription for funding research into situations such as the
EWG. You can also mail us a check for
$25.00 payable to Market Data, Inc. – PROMO and we will place this amount into the
fund and provide you with periodic updates as new information is posted on the
website or mail you with any new information as it is developed. Or visit us at
www.marketdatainc.com If you
have any questions, call Greg Lohoefener at 1-800-867-8289 or write to Market
Data, Inc. Box 90 Oberlin, KS
67749. Greg has
23 years of actual farming, ag consulting and grain elevator
ownership/management experience and is currently farming over 800 acres of dry cropland. NOTE: One of the items we are in the process of
developing is a set of facts relating to grain prices, USDA payment levels, the
cost of machinery, land, historically as compared to today. This will include such things as the value
of grain in a certain product - then and now and how the USDA payments may
figure into the cost of each item. MDI FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT FARMERS MUST UNITE AND PRESENT A SET OF FACTS TO COUNTER ALL THE NEGATIVE PRESS THEY ARE RECEIVING. MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN THE URBAN AREAS ONLY HEAR ABOUT THE FUNDS BEING PAID TO (OR ASSUMED TO BE GOING JUST TO FARMERS) AND DO NOT HAVE THE FACTS! IT IS TIME TO GIVE THEM, CONGRESS, AND THE PRESIDENT THE FACTS. THIS MUST BE DONE NOW IN ORDER TO HAVE TIME TO BUILD MORE RESPECT FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS PRIOR TO DISCUSSIONS ON A NEW FARMBILL OR FOR DISASTER AID THAT MAY BE NEEDED OVER THE COMING YEARS.
|
