In any case, we hope that this year's convention will be productive for American Farm Bureau Federation, and hope that they will support Packers and Stockyards rules to foster competitive bidding in cattle markets, antidumping claims for cattle and other commodities, cattle price reporting, the rancher lawsuit against IBP, and the petition drive for a beef checkoff referendum, among other positions. Considering that family farm agriculture needs more allies in order to survive, NFFC is concerned that AFBF continues to antagonize environmental groups rather than focus on the causes of low farm prices. The main issue of contention between Defenders of Wildlife and the Farm Bureau is reintroduction of the grey wolf. At NFFC, we have never had a position on the issue, and will not attempt to persuade anyone with our limited expertise about the grey wolf. We do know from experience that people who care deeply about family farm agriculture all too often end up on opposite sides of environmental issues, and in the process farmers get separated from consumers who can be strong potential allies.
Farmers have a tremendous amount to gain by working with environmental groups on important issues.
Environmental groups have, for example, solidified their support of fair trade rather than free trade, helping us defeat fast track. Since we have defeated fast track, our government is under pressure to respond constructively to ranchers who are trying to stop cattle dumping from Canada. It is also important to remember the previously mentioned proposed rule to require competitive bidding for cattle supplies was drafted by the Western Organization of Resource Councils, a grassroots organization that unites ranchers and consumers working on farm and environmental issues. In 1999, farmers face the fight of our lives. By targeting environmental groups, AFBF is only hurting family farmers' ability to make the alliances that they need to make.