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Article: Farm Bureau's Clout remains formidable.(Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation)(Statistical Data Included)
- Article from:
- Arkansas Business
- Article date:
- February 25, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Journal Publishing, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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ALTHOUGH THERE'S BEEN A STEADY decline in the number of farms in the state, there's been no decline in the influence of what is probably the stare's most powerful lobby, the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation.
The Farm Bureau has a solid legacy of political influence in a state heavily dependent on the agriculture dollar -- nearly $5.9 billion in cash farm receipts in 2001. Agriculture is the state's single largest industry; making up more than 25 percent of the state's economy -- probably half if forestry is included.
The Arkansas Farm Bureau, the eighth largest in the country with more than 222,000 "member families," has built its political power from ...