How politics can influence an ag-positive press article

PLEASE READ THIS BACKGROUND ON THE AUTHOR BEFORE READING THE ARTICLE

**Wesley Clark is a democrat politician who currently serves as the co-chairman of Growth Energy, an ethanol lobbying group^[6][7] and on the board of directors of BNK Petroleum.^[8]

Hold the thin green line by protecting farmers

Wesley Clark**
Special to the Star

When the United States rationed food during World War II so citizens and soldiers had enough to eat, the Secretary of Agriculture often repeated the slogan: “Food will win the war and write the peace.”

I think of these words every time I read an article or see a fringe group attacking the modern-day farmer.

The harsh reality is America’s political leaders must take appropriate measures today to ensure that farmers do not become an endangered species tomorrow—a loss we cannot afford.

I am no farm policy expert, but I know about national security, and I know that farmers are as important today as they were in 1942.

Of course, meeting America’s needs is more challenging today because the U.S. population has nearly tripled over the past 70 years and continues an upward march. Meanwhile, the number of farms has plummeted, leaving just 210,000 full-time farms to feed, fuel and clothe more than 300 million Americans.

Think about that sobering fact. More people pass through Wal-Mart’s doors every 21 minutes to buy groceries and clothes than there are farms to grow the goods stocking Wal-Mart’s shelves.

These aren’t mega corporations with reserve capital or bailout packages. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 98 percent of farms are still family-owned businesses with embarrassingly low profit margins.

Yet we are dependent on their survival for more than just providing three meals a day. There’s also the health of one of the country’s biggest economic engines at stake.

More than 21 million Americans have jobs rooted in agriculture, the industry boasts a rare trade surplus, and it generates hundreds of billions in economic activity each year.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City credits agriculture with being at the forefront of the nation’s economic recovery. Unfortunately, the Fed also warns that farm debt is rising to dangerous levels, leaving the future of agriculture in a precarious position.

Such a warning should alarm us all, because the farming community is also on the frontlines of breaking America’s dependence on foreign oil—perhaps our biggest security threat.

Whether it is ethanol produced from corn, waste-to-energy biomass power derived from crop residue, or wind energy harnessed on farm acres, the Midwest is needed to end our Middle East oil addiction. As an added bonus, ethanol also produces good-paying jobs, and ethanol—with its low-carbon qualities—reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 59 percent compared to gasoline.

As a new Congress debates America’s future, and the White House builds on a promising State of the Union speech, they should think of the 210,000 farms that produce 80 percent of the country’s agricultural output as a thin green line standing between prosperity and disaster.

They must realize that we need to open new markets both abroad and at home. We need to abandon questionable regulations based on unsound science—such as “indirect land use change”—that unfairly penalize farmers and renewable, clean-burning biofuels.

Simply put, we must hold the thin green line.

If we cannot feed, fuel and clothe ourselves, then we cannot defend ourselves. If this one bright spot in our economy is choked off, then recession recovery will certainly stall. And, if rural America falters, we open the floodgate to even more fuel produced by nation states that do not share our values and strategic interests—and our country is less secure.

America is at a crossroads, just as we were in the 1970s when our reliance on overseas oil first bit us. That’s why elected leaders must put a premium on holding this thin green line through smart government—ranging from fewer onerous regulations to tax, energy, and trade policies that boost bottom lines.

If anyone needs a reminder of what we’re fighting for, read the slogan used by the current Agriculture Secretary: “If you have trouble with Hugo Chavez providing your oil, how do you feel about him providing your food?”

Wesley Clark served as a general in the United States Army and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. A former presidential candidate, Rhodes scholar and graduate of West Point Military Academy, General Clark now serves as co-chairman of Growth Energy. Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.

1. Phillip Hayes: — Feb 15, 2011 1:33 p.m.
   
   Well said, General Clark. Sugar was actually the first commodity rationed during WWII and the last commodity taken off the rationing list after the war. We were dependent on foreign sugar producers then and can’t afford to let the same thing happen in the future. Let’s hope legislators hear your warning and help hold the thin green line. There’s a great saying in sugar country: Not everyone farms, but everyone eats.
2. kcgrh2: — Feb 15, 2011 4:46 p.m.
   
   As expected, no mention of FREEING farmers to produce what they want in the quantity that they want. Why, that would require govt. getting out of the damm way and bureaucrats not hovering over farmers with the resulting SMALLER govt.
   Wesley is just another big govt. lib I am afraid…
3. redstateguy: — Feb 15, 2011 11:21 p.m.
   
   Wow, what a puff piece for Growth Energy. Why would the Star print someone’s press release?
4. Lance Linklot: — Feb 16, 2011 5:23 a.m.
   
   Wesley is endorsing the biggest tax on food in history
   This is redistibution of wealth
   Ethanol without a government subsidy is unprofitable
   We will be paying at both ends .It is corporate welfare and higher and higher corn and meat prices Forget about Beef its whats for dinner in a few months it will be Beef it was for dinner
   The only ethanol that is good is what the the leader Johnny boy gets pickled with every night
5. Jack Fermier: — Feb 16, 2011 9:33 a.m.
   
   Lance, re-distribution of wealth is what’s happening right now with hundreds of billions of our energy dollars being siphoned off to OPEC countries. Seems to me we’re much better off supporting food and fuel production within our borders, rather than relying on others to supply us. A solid US ag sector helps give us food security, economic securtiy and energy security. I’ll take that over the alternative any day.
6. Pamela Yoder: — Feb 16, 2011 9:40 a.m.
   
   General Clark makes some excellent points. Our country has become dependent on foreign oil, we sure don’t want to become dependent on foreign countries for our food supply. I would like to see our energy dollars stay in this country too, instead of building up cities like Dubai. Imagine what that could do for our country. Most people may not know that when making ethanol the protein is still going into livestock feed from that corn in a product that livestock producers love. Looks to me like ethanol is a win win. We become less deponent on other countries, dollars stay in the good old USA, and livestock still gets the protein from the grain. Let’s not let those that are opposed to our government farm policies scare everyone off and we become dependent on a foreign governments farm policies!!!
7. Erik Younggren: — Feb 20, 2011 8:21 p.m.
   
   Excellent article General. I have had the opportunity to hear from many military leaders and they all stress the importance of breaking our dependence on foreign oil. American agriculture can feed, fuel, and clothe America with safe, reliable, and affordable products. Right now we are exporting $1 billion a day for fuel, just think how better off our country would be if we kept those dollars at home.

Read more: http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/hold-thin-green-line-protecting-farmers/#ixzz1LMnv0tqZ