Agriculture

Tobacco Lobbyist Talks Turkey, Shoots Messengers

by John Stauber — January 17, 2002 - 9:52am

A food industry website reports that lobbyist Rick Berman addressed Tuesday's annual meeting of the National Turkey Association. "What many of you don't understand is just how many different ways this industry is being attacked by groups. They are coming at you all from the animal rights side, as well as biotechnology, antibiotics hysteria, anti-corporate, labor and the factory farms angle. ...

Main Source:

www.meatingplace.com

A Teflon Correspondent

by Laura Miller — January 1, 2002 - 1:17pm

ABC News correspondent John Stossel comes under harsh scrutiny in a January 7, 2002 Nation article. Journalist Mark Dowie looks into Stossel's rise from humble consumer-interest reporter to million-dollar network star. As network news divisions were forced to become profit centers in early 90s, network executives wanted "talent" to sell the new news product. "Professional attention-grabbers ... became free-market winners. By cleverly blending blue-collar social values with Wall Street economic values, they got rich," writes Dowie.

Main Source:

The Nation, January 7, 2002

Idaho Officials Cancel Speech Fearing Anti-Ag Message

by Laura Miller — September 4, 2001 - 11:00pm

Agriculture

MeatingPlace.com, which describes itself as "the premiere information provider for the red meat and poultry industries," reports that "An Oct. 3 'Success Breakfast,' sponsored by the College of Southern Idaho and the Twin Falls, Idaho, Chamber of Commerce and featuring activist Jeremy Rifkin, has been cancelled after officials became worried he might make negative comments about beef and milk, according to The Associated Press.

Main Source:

MeatingPlace.com, September 5, 2001

Price Fixer to the World Seeks New Image

by Anonymous — April 17, 2001 - 11:00pm

Archer Daniels Midland Company, seeking a more wholesome image, replaced its longtime slogan "Supermarket to the World" with the touchingly eco-friendly tag "The Nature of What's to Come." ADM has reason to be concerned about its public profile; the feds have convicted the agri-business giant of multiple counts of price-fixing, multiple states have taken it to court for pollution-related issues, and political reformers say ADM has reaped massive government pork from heavy soft money donations.

Main Source:

O'Dwyer's Newsletter, April 18, 2001