http://looncommons.org/2006/08/25/ads-on-wcco-dont-pass-the-reality-test/ A forum for current and emerging environmental and conservation issues in Minnesota. Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:07:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://looncommons.org/2006/08/25/ads-on-wcco-dont-pass-the-reality-test/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Loon Commons: Dedicated to Protecting and Restoring Minnesota’s Environment » Blog Archive » Bean There, Done That Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:21:22 +0000 http://looncommons.org/2006/08/25/ads-on-wcco-dont-pass-the-reality-test/#comment-2 [...] “Checkoff funds,” money collected on soybeans sold by farmers, are supposed to be used for soybean research and promotion. Checkoff funds cannot be used for “influencing legislation or government action or policy,” according to federal law. But in 2006 a series of soybean-checkoff funded ads ran on WCCO-TV that attempted to build support for policies that favor large-scale livestock operations and blamed “anti-livestock activists” and “local control” for problems in the farm economy. The ads were sponsored by the Minnesota Farm and Food Coalition, to which the MSGA and Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council belong. The use of soybean checkoff money in this way was a potential violation of federal law. In addition, WCCO’s Pat Kessler did a “Reality Check” segment on the ads and found them full of “misstatements and exaggerations.” [...] [...] “Checkoff funds,” money collected on soybeans sold by farmers, are supposed to be used for soybean research and promotion. Checkoff funds cannot be used for “influencing legislation or government action or policy,” according to federal law. But in 2006 a series of soybean-checkoff funded ads ran on WCCO-TV that attempted to build support for policies that favor large-scale livestock operations and blamed “anti-livestock activists” and “local control” for problems in the farm economy. The ads were sponsored by the Minnesota Farm and Food Coalition, to which the MSGA and Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council belong. The use of soybean checkoff money in this way was a potential violation of federal law. In addition, WCCO’s Pat Kessler did a “Reality Check” segment on the ads and found them full of “misstatements and exaggerations.” [...]

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