Farm Bureau

The necessary distribution channels for reliable information and farmer education also were not well established. During the late 1950s, herbicide application recommendations were obtained through many of the same sources from which agricultural products were purchased, such as Farm Bureau stores, operators of local grain elevators, and feed... 

In 1973 about 2000 lb of PBBs were accidentally mixed with livestock feed at the Michigan Farm Bureau feed mill in Battle Creek, Michigan—the result of packaging mix-up of "Firemaster" and "Nutrimaster", a sweetening agent (MgO) used in cattle feed. Thousands of animals sickened and died. Some 30,000 cattle, along with thousands... 

Some weeks later FDA investigators and Farm Bureau people found a partly filled bag of Firemaster at the feed mill. Within the month (May 1971 ) action (tolerance) levels were established by the FDA for PBB contamination. The Michigan Department of Agriculture began quarantining contaminated farms—a process that went on until the end of 1975- Another six months saw the original MACs for PBBs further lowered to 0.3 ppm for meats and dairy products, and 0.05 ppm for eggs and feed, as the toxic effects in animals were noted at lesser concentrations, and the routine detection of PBBs at these lower concentrations became feasible. 

Cole and four children, age 5 to 10 felt "sick and miserable", each suffering from one or more maladies, e.g., "extreme lethargy, severe headaches, stomach discomfort, and stiff or swollen joints". Their illness was attributed to pork from pigs fattened on PBB-contaminated grain, obtained from their local Farm Bureau elevator in Chippewa County. A fat sample taken from the elder Cole showed 0.15 ppm of PBB contamination and the pork eaten was reportedly only lightly contaminated. No mention is made of milk consumed—particularly by the children. 

The PBB contamination incident had a devastating effect on the Michigan economy. Long before a complete accounting was available, the loss of farm animals reported was 29,800 cattle, 5.920 hogs, 1,470 sheep and ca. 1.5 million chickens. Thousands of cattle were hauled to a remote 20-acre burial site ("Animal Auschwitz") in central Michigan by Farm Bureau Services. 

The compliance date for use on range and/or pastureland, com, wheat, soybeans, sorghum, oats, barley, rye and/or cotton was originally set for Feb-mary 1, 1988. After EPA delayed partial implementation of the program in 1989 due to dissatisfaction of the methods of implementation by most states, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and even members of Congress, compliance was finally initiated in 1992. More than 60% of all agricultural pesticides and 1,000 U.S. counties will be affected by the program s provisions. 

American Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Facts Today, 83(14), (2004). Available http // www.fb.org/news/fbn/04/07 12/html/bsetimeline.html. 

Wilkie, H. F., and Kolachov, P. J. (1942). Food for Thought. Indiana Farm Bureau, Indianapolis, IN. 

Neshoba County Farmers Market Hwy. 162 East, Farm Bureau Building Philadelphia, MS b 601-426-9583 Seasonal Starkville Farmers Market South Jackson St. Starkville, MS b 601-323-5916 Seasonal... 

Lawrence County Farmers Market Hwy. 39 at Farm Bureau Building Mt. Vernon, MO b 417-466-7679 Seasonal - Saturday... 

Utah Farm Bureau Farmers Market 9865 S. State St. 

Indiana Farm Bureau Coop, Koch Refining, Mapco Petroleum, Murphy Oil USA, Tosco Corporation, and Total Petroleum. 

Support of this work was provided by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, die California Department of Food and Agriculture Fertilizer Research and Education Program, the Orange County Farm Bureau, State Water Resources Control Board/Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board EPA 319(h). 

Willkie HP, Kalachov PJ (1942) Food for thought—a treatise on the utilization of farm products Jot producing farm motor fuel as a means of solving the agricultural problem. Indiana Farm Bureau Inc., USA... 

Source Reproduced with permission from Examining Consumer Expectations of Agriculture 1999-2002. Copyright 2002 American Farm Bureau Association. 

Knutson, R. D. et. al.. Economic Impacts of Reduced Pesticide Use on Fruits and Vegetables, American Farm Bureau Research Foundation, Chicago, IL, September, 1993... 

Farm Facts 2002. American Farm Bureau Federation, www.fb.org... 

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