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from liquid manure spills and leaks from huge manure "lagoons." <br /> Though this bill paves the way for greater agribusiness gains over <br /> family farms, it had the support of most Minnesota legislators. Would if <br /> have passed without the influence of agribusiness political contribu- <br /> tions? One has to wonder... <br /> Family farmers: hung out to dry <br /> Besides passing legislation favorable to agribusiness, Minnesota <br /> legislators have ignored bills such as the Livestock Processing Plant <br /> Development Program. It would aid the development of livestock <br /> processing cooperatives, giving Minnesota family farmers an alternative <br /> to selling their outputs to corporate processing operations. It would also <br /> establish a fund to help small farmers afford grocery store shelf space <br /> for their products, which is currently monopolized by corporate live- <br /> stock processors. Without this legislation, consumers are often not <br /> given the option of buying naturally raised, healthy meats and instead <br /> must buy potentially antibiotic-laden products from corporate farming <br /> operations. <br /> It would seem. then, to make good sense to pass this bill: it helps <br /> economically disadvantaged family farmers, reinvigorates market <br /> competition, and offers consumers more choices. Yet, for two legisla- <br /> tive sessions, it has gained no attention. Flow could this be? Could our <br /> legislators' fear of alienating agribusiness contributors be preventing <br /> them from aiding our farmers'? <br /> Family farmers. consumers and environmentalists will continue to fight <br /> against corporate agriculture and for sustainable agricultural policies. <br /> And this fight depends on replacing the present campaign finance sys- <br /> tem with a system that allows democracy to work. <br /> The campaign finance data is based on reports filed with the Minnesota Campaign <br /> Finance and Public Disclosure Board and analyses done by the National Institute on <br /> Money in State Politics and the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action. <br /> Information on farm issues was provided by the Land Stewardship Project. the <br /> Minnesota Farmers Union. and State Representatives Ted Winter and Doug Peterson. <br /> R <br />