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Where is The Power in Agricultural and Food Policy?. Agriculture ’ s iron triangle Government Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch Other Organizations General farm organizations Commodity organizations Agribusinesses Public interest groups Other departments.
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Where is The Power in Agricultural and Food Policy? • Agriculture’s iron triangle • Government • Executive Branch • Legislative Branch • Judicial Branch • Other Organizations • General farm organizations • Commodity organizations • Agribusinesses • Public interest groups • Other departments
Interest Groups USDA Congress Interest Groups Key part of iron triangle More often than not, the interest groups are the ones that get the attention of USDA and/or Congress
Farm Organizations • General farm/agribusiness organizations • American Farm Bureau Federation • National Farmers Union • Commodity organizations • National Corn Growers • National Cotton Council • Every commodity has one, and some have multiple All other things equal, the more specific the cause/interest, the more effective the group But all other things are seldom equal
Commodity Organizations • Most effective organizations in agriculture because of focused commodity interests • Most effective are those that represent entire industry (NCC) • Beef has had conflicts among cattlemen and NCBA • If producer organization goes head-to-head with agribusiness, agribusiness normally wins (ex., packer in beef) • Almost always have related state organizations • Party alignment is an interesting issue
Commodity Organizationsex. NCBA • Advertise • Educate • Provide services to members
Public Interest Groups Typically focus on only 1 issue • Environment (Sierra Club, National Resources Defense Council, Environmental Working Group, American Farmland Trust) • Hunger lobby (Bread for the World) • Animal rights (Humane Society of the United States, P.E.T.A.) • Consumer lobby (CFA, CW, CU, Center for Science in the Public Interest)
Agribusinesses/Trade Associations • Restaurant Associations • Equipment dealers • Chemical Applicators • International Dairy Foods Association
Summary • Truly an iron triangle of influence • Functions of Legislative Branch • Functions of key Committees • Why It’s Good to be in the Majority • How a Bill Becomes a Law
Summary (cont) • General farm/Agribusiness interests generally broader than commodity policy • Trade • Tax policy • Often have related state organizations • Often aligned with political party • Farmers Union (D) • Farm Bureau (historically R) • Agribusiness (generally R) • Agribusiness firms often have their own lobbyists but still belong to commodity groups and general agribusiness organizations