One year ago, a Wisconsin organic dairy farmer asked Trump USDA Secy. Sonny Perdue for help.
Perdue asked for details and said he'd get back to him.
This is the story of what happened next.
tyt.com/stories/4vZLCH…
Perdue asked for details and said he'd get back to him.
This is the story of what happened next.
tyt.com/stories/4vZLCH…
Farmer Paul Adams said he'd read about big farms that were somehow getting certified as organic -- flooding the market with organic milk, driving prices down and small farms out of business.
Their exchange was captured on video:
Their exchange was captured on video:
Paul couldn't remember the big organic dairy farm he had read about, but told me it was Natural Prairie Dairy Farms, one of a handful of big Texas farms that now produce more milk than all of Wisconsin's small dairy farms combined.
jsonline.com/story/money/20…
jsonline.com/story/money/20…
It turns out that Natural Prairie Dairy has been accused of faking its organic status and even abusing its cows.
The owners have denied it all, and the USDA backs them up.
The problem for them, and Paul, is that the system they're relying on to vindicate them...is compromised.
The owners have denied it all, and the USDA backs them up.
The problem for them, and Paul, is that the system they're relying on to vindicate them...is compromised.
Inspections vindicating the farm were done by third parties including the Texas Dept. of Agriculture, a state government agency...
...and the National Milk Producers Federation.
The farm's owners have ties to both...
...and the National Milk Producers Federation.
The farm's owners have ties to both...
Owner Donald De Jong is a past board member of the National Milk Producers Federation...
...and its current board includes three members from his dairy cooperative.
nmpf.org/nmpf-seats-two…
...and its current board includes three members from his dairy cooperative.
nmpf.org/nmpf-seats-two…
The De Jongs have also given Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller $18,750 in donations over the years...
...in addition to $52,500 from the Texas Association of Dairymen.
...in addition to $52,500 from the Texas Association of Dairymen.
De Jong and other leaders of his dairy cooperative have been leaders of the Texas Association of Dairymen for years.
Miller's spokesperson declined to comment on the donations.
The De Jongs told me they never asked him for anything.
Miller's spokesperson declined to comment on the donations.
The De Jongs told me they never asked him for anything.
The year after Miller took office, he appointed De Jong as the sole representative of organic dairy on his agency's organic industrial agriculture advisory board.
texasagriculture.gov/NewsEvents/New…
texasagriculture.gov/NewsEvents/New…
The reason Miller's agency inspects and certifies organic dairy farms is not to help the environment or protect consumers, it's to help Texas organic dairy farms take market share from organic dairies in other states.
We know this, because they say so.
We know this, because they say so.
The USDA pointed to organic reforms Perdue is now pursuing but had no comment on Perdue's past donations from big agriculture.
And Perdue is no stranger to ethical controversy.
politico.com/news/2020/10/1…
And Perdue is no stranger to ethical controversy.
politico.com/news/2020/10/1…
Perdue made headlines at the same Expo where he spoke with Paul Adams...
when he said American farms have to get big or go out.
But his words proved prophetic.
startribune.com/sonny-perdue-t…
when he said American farms have to get big or go out.
But his words proved prophetic.
startribune.com/sonny-perdue-t…
The De Jongs are now expanding in Indiana.
But as for Paul Adams, he sold off his cattle a few months after speaking with Perdue. The sale of the farm itself will close a week after Election Day.
The daughter set to inherit it is looking for work as a bookkeeper.
And one PS...
But as for Paul Adams, he sold off his cattle a few months after speaking with Perdue. The sale of the farm itself will close a week after Election Day.
The daughter set to inherit it is looking for work as a bookkeeper.
And one PS...
Paul's ancestor who founded the farm was a Civil War veteran, who served under Gen. Sherman during the infamous March to the Sea that decimated Georgia.
Before heading USDA, Perdue was governor of Georgia.
He never responded to Paul's request.
Before heading USDA, Perdue was governor of Georgia.
He never responded to Paul's request.
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