Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
MS 482
Farm Crisis Committee
Records, 1979-2008, undated
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Farm Crisis Committee |
| title: | Records |
| dates: | 1979-2008, undated |
| extent: | 5.04 linear feet (12 document boxes) |
| collection number: | MS 482 |
| repository: | Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Farm Crisis Committee Records, MS 482, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Historical note
The Farm Crisis Committee was formed in November of 1984 by a group of seventeen farmers and businessmen from the Emerson, Nebraska area. The main focus of the group was to draw attention to the growing farm crisis facing the midwestern United States. The group attempted to influence government policy that related to farming. Another goal was to keep the public aware of the problems farmers were facing with falling crop prices and land values, as well as a lack of credit available to keep farming. Satellite committees formed in neighboring states such as Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota with the hope that more people could be reached and influenced to push for viable and equitable farm legislation. The Farm Crisis Committee was a non-profit organization that relied on donations to fund rallies, buy radio air time, educate and inform the public, and encourage letter writing campaigns to congressmen to create a viable working federal farm bill. There were four main objectives the Farm Crisis Committee hoped to achieve. The first goal was to lower interest rates to make it easier for farmers to afford loans. The second was to improve crop prices or set a ceiling for production that might also bring prices up. The third was to enforce export standards so that no more than 5% foreign matter could be included in grain that is exported to foreign customers. The fourth goal was to close tax loopholes for non-active farming investors. The group was led by Tim Wrage, a Nebraska native, who believed that actively courting elected officials was the best way to attempt to improve the situation facing the American farmer in the 1980s. |
Collection description
The collection (1979-2008, undated) contains papers from the Farm Crisis Committee as well as many other organizations that assisted in the common goal of drafting a new farm bill. There are Committee newsletters, meeting minutes, radio speeches, and correspondence to and from members of Congress and President Reagan. Papers from other groups include bankruptcy issues and Farmer’s Home Administration (FmHA) lawsuits from the Family Farm Defense Fund; articles and general information about Farm Aid; and correspondence and newsletters from the League of Rural Voters. Prairiefire newsletters and memos; correspondence and memos of the National Save the Family Farm Coalition; and survey results based off the 1985 Farm Bill are also found here. In addition, many smaller organizations have useful documents that were kept by the Farm Crisis Committee, along with other related agricultural data and information from that era. |
Organization
The collection is arranged in two series, each alphabetically arranged. |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Farm Crisis Committee Records | 1984-1987, undated |
| extent: | 0.42 linear feet (1 document box) | |
| description: | The series contains records from the Farm Crisis Committee itself, including board meeting minutes, by-laws and articles of incorporation, newsletters, speeches, and correspondence. These records show what the Committee was trying to accomplish and how they were attempting to meet their goals. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Farm Crisis Committee - board meeting minutes, agendas |
1985-1987 |
1 |
2 |
Farm Crisis Committee - by-laws, articles of incorporation |
1984-1985, undated |
1 |
3 |
Farm Crisis Committee - general information, articles, correspondence |
1985, undated |
1 |
4 |
Farm Crisis Committee - news releases, news alerts |
1985-1986, undated |
1 |
5 |
Farm Crisis Committee - newsletters |
1985 |
1 |
6 |
Farm Crisis Committee - newsletters (January-April) |
1986 |
1 |
7 |
Farm Crisis Committee - newsletters (May-December 1986; 1987) |
1986-1987 |
1 |
8 |
Farm Crisis Committee - organization information, certificates of authority |
1984-1985, undated |
1 |
9 |
Farm Crisis Committee - radio speeches by Tim Wrage |
1985-1987 |
1 |
10 |
Farm Crisis Committee - speeches by Betty Fuchser |
1986-1987 |
1 |
11 |
Farm Crisis Committee - testimony, comments by Tim Wrage |
1985, undated |
1 |
12 |
Farm Crisis Committee, Iowa - agriculture data, general Iowa chapter information |
1985, undated |
1 |
13 |
Farm Crisis Committee correspondence - many to/from Tim Wrage and Betty Fuchser |
1984-1985, undated |
2 |
1 |
Farm Crisis Committee correspondence - many to/from Tim Wrage and Betty Fuchser |
1986-1987, undated |
Description of series
| Series 2 | Other Farm Crisis Subject Files | 1979-2008, undated |
| extent: | 4.62 linear feet (11 document boxes) | |
| description: | The series contains the records of groups such as Family Farm Defense Fund, League of Rural Voters, National Save the Family Farm Coalition, and Prairiefire. These papers include correspondence, newspaper articles, meeting minutes, reports, and a wide range of general information about these organizations and the crisis in agriculture. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
2 |
2 |
Block, John (Secretary of Agriculture under Reagan) - newspaper articles regarding Block’s resignation |
1986 |
2 |
3 |
Branstad, Terry (Governor of Iowa) - news release, report, newspaper articles |
1985, undated |
2 |
4 |
Brochures - information related to farming crisis |
1984-1988, undated |
2 |
5 |
Center for Rural Affairs - correspondence, Guide to Bankruptcy booklet |
1985-1988, undated |
2 |
6 |
Center for Rural Affairs - newsletters |
1985-1987 |
2 |
7 |
Congressional Record - agricultural proceedings |
1984-1985 |
2 |
8 |
Correspondence - Abdnor, James (South Dakota Senator) |
1985 |
2 |
9 |
Correspondence - Boren, David (Oklahoma Senator) |
1985 |
2 |
10 |
Correspondence - Dole, Bob (Kansas Senator) |
1985, undated |
2 |
11 |
Correspondence - Exon, James (Nebraska Senator) |
1984-1986 |
2 |
12 |
Correspondence - Foley, Thomas (Washington Representative) |
1985 |
2 |
13 |
Correspondence - Nebraska State Legislature members |
1985-1987, undated |
2 |
14 |
Correspondence - Reagan, Ronald |
1984-1985 |
2 |
15 |
Correspondence - Sikorski, Gerry (Minnesota Representative) |
1985-1986 |
2 |
16 |
Correspondence, articles - Bedell, Berkley (Iowa Representative) |
1985 |
2 |
17 |
Correspondence, articles - Zorinsky, Edward (Nebraska Senator) |
1985-1987 |
2 |
18 |
Correspondence, news releases - Bereuter, Doug (Nebraska Representative) |
1985-1987, undated |
2 |
19 |
Correspondence, news releases - De La Garza, E (Texas Representative) |
1985 |
2 |
20 |
Correspondence, news releases - Harkin, Tom (Iowa Senator) |
1985-1987 |
3 |
1 |
Correspondence, proposal - Daschle, Tom (South Dakota Representative) |
1985-1986, undated |
3 |
2 |
Correspondence, report - Daub, Hal (Nebraska Representative) |
1985 |
3 |
3 |
Correspondence, report, testimony - Gephardt, Richard (Missouri Representative) |
1985-1988, undated |
3 |
4 |
Correspondence, reports, news release - Kerrey, Bob (Nebraska Governor) |
1984-1986 |
3 |
5 |
Correspondence, statements - Leahy, Patrick (Vermont Senator) |
1987 |
3 |
6 |
Correspondence, statements - Smith, Virginia (Nebraska Representative) |
1985-1987 |
3 |
7 |
Correspondence, statements - to/from various congressmen and Farm Crisis Committee |
1985-1987, undated |
3 |
8 |
Crop prices - newspaper, magazine articles |
1985-1988 |
3 |
9 |
Danny & Carolyn, recording artists - 45 rpm vinyl record (2 copies), “The Farmer’s Gonna Have to Fight (Again)”/”Born to Be a Farmer,” promotional/publicity material, correspondence, photographs (1- 3x5”, 1- 8x10” color; 1- 8x10 b/w prints) |
1985 |
3 |
10 |
Department of Agriculture testimony and statements of Department of Agriculture employees (including John Block) - accounts of appearances before agriculture-related committee hearings |
1985-1987 |
3 |
11 |
Extension publications, Iowa State University - family and farm financial stresses |
1984 |
3 |
12 |
Family Farm Act of 1987 - news releases, newspaper articles, general information |
1987 |
3 |
13 |
Family Farm Defense Fund - bankruptcy manual |
1987 |
3 |
14 |
Family Farm Defense Fund - board of directors meetings |
1986-1987 |
3 |
15 |
Family Farm Defense Fund - board of directors meeting regarding proposed lawsuits against Farmer’s Home Administration (FmHA) |
1986 |
3 |
16 |
Family Farm Defense Fund - by-laws, article, group reports/updates |
1987, undated |
3 |
17 |
Family Farm Defense Fund - correspondence, congressional hearing papers, affidavits |
1986 |
3 |
18 |
Family Farm Defense Fund - Georgia lawsuit against Farmer’s Home Administration (FmHA) |
1986 |
4 |
1 |
Family Farm Defense Fund - Indiana lawsuit against Farmer’s Home Administration (FmHA) |
1986 |
4 |
2 |
Family Farm Defense Fund - news releases regarding John Conlee benefit concert, publicity material |
1985 |
4 |
3 |
Family Farm Defense Fund - Oklahoma lawsuit against Farmer’s Home Administration (FmHA) |
1986 |
4 |
4 |
Family Farm Defense Fund - Texas lawsuit against Farmer’s Home Administration (FmHA) |
1986 |
4 |
5 |
Farm Aid - newspaper articles, correspondence, brochures, general information |
1985-1987, undated |
4 |
6 |
Farm crisis and arms race connections - brochures, article |
1985, undated |
4 |
7 |
Farm foreclosures - newspaper articles |
1985-1987, undated |
4 |
8 |
Farmer’s Legal Action Group - correspondence, announcements |
1986 |
4 |
9 |
Farming statistics, data - government and private data compilations on market conditions and rural economy |
1982-1986, undated |
4 |
10 |
Federal reports and information on farm crisis and agriculture - from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), General Accounting Office (GAO), Congressional Budget Office (CBO) |
1984-1987 |
4 |
11 |
Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) - Food Security Act evaluation, reports on economic impact of crisis, 1985 Farm Bill reviews |
1985 |
4 |
12 |
Food Security Act - legislative report, information |
1985 |
4 |
13 |
Food stamp assistance - federal research publications, general information |
1979-1985, undated |
4 |
14 |
Farm Bill 1985 - descriptions, proposals, articles |
1985 |
5 |
1 |
Farm credit issues - government reports, information, program details, related articles |
1984-1988, undated |
5 |
2 |
Farm credit issues - newspaper articles |
1985-1988, undated |
5 |
3 |
Farm credit issues - testimonies, speech, correspondence from credit groups, information |
1985-1988 |
5 |
4 |
Government data on economics, trends, various organization positions on farm policy - tables, graphs, charts, survey |
1985, undated |
5 |
5 |
Grassley, Charles (Iowa Senator) - news release, article |
1985 |
5 |
6 |
Grassroots: National Association of Farm Credit System Stockholders - correspondence, reports on federal bills |
1985-1987 |
5 |
7 |
Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce - agriculture reports, correspondence, Chamber booklet |
1984-1985, undated |
5 |
8 |
Haggard, Merle; charity and awareness work - newspaper articles, flyer, photograph (1- 8x10” b/w print) |
1985, undated |
5 |
9 |
Harkin/Gephardt Family Farm Act - outlines of bill, explanatory information |
1987 |
5 |
10 |
Harl, Neil (Iowa State University professor) - proposals and presentations related to agricultural economics |
1985-1986 |
5 |
11 |
Hate groups; issues related to agriculture - article, information, “Training Manual” to help combat radical right groups |
1985-1986 |
6 |
1 |
Initiative 300, Nebraska’s law governing corporate land ownership - history of the law, information, articles, editorial |
1985-1988, undated |
6 |
2 |
Iowa Beef Packers (IBP) - magazine article, report on working conditions, open letter from union |
1987, undated |
6 |
3 |
Iowa Farm Unity Coalition - group agenda, articles of incorporation, by-laws, news release |
1985-1987 |
6 |
4 |
Iowa legislative bill - economic protective authority |
undated |
6 |
5 |
Land values in the Midwest - newspaper articles, data |
1985 |
6 |
6 |
League of Rural Voters, national and state groups - memos, news releases, correspondence, general information, Farm Vote ’86 campaign papers |
1984-1987, undated |
6 |
7 |
Legislative bills - summaries, amendments, discussion, review |
1985-1987, undated |
6 |
8 |
Minnesota-specific testimony and reports for state legislation, issues - reports, newspaper articles |
1985-1988, undated |
6 |
9 |
Missouri-specific information - university extension papers, Missouri Rural Crisis Center funding proposal, articles |
1985-1986 |
6 |
10 |
National Crisis Action Rally; Ames, Iowa - news release, speech transcripts, general information |
1985, undated |
6 |
11 |
National Farmer’s Union publication - “Agriculture’s Legal Rights Under the Bankruptcy Laws” |
1987 |
6 |
12 |
National Save the Family Farm Coalition - meeting minutes |
1986-1987 |
7 |
1 |
National Save the Family Farm Coalition - by-laws, articles of incorporation, general information |
1986-1987, undated |
7 |
2 |
National Save the Family Farm Coalition - reports, memos, updates, correspondence |
1986-1987, undated |
7 |
3 |
Nebraska Department of Revenue book - “Nebraska Agricultural Land Valuation Manual” |
1985 |
7 |
4 |
Nebraska League of Rural Voters - by-laws, articles of incorporation, general information |
1987, undated |
7 |
5 |
Nebraska legislative bills - agriculture related |
1980-1986, undated |
7 |
6 |
Nebraska Wheat Board - news releases, proposal for supply management and price stability, commodity price comparison sheets |
1984-1988, undated |
7 |
7 |
Nebraska-specific reports - financial profile of Nebraska farmer, agricultural debt |
1984-1985, undated |
7 |
8 |
Newspaper, magazine articles - agriculture, farm crisis related |
1984-1988, undated |
7 |
9 |
Prairiefire - memos sent to organization members |
1986-1988 |
8 |
1 |
Prairiefire - publications (research on crisis), includes book “The American Religious Community and Federal Farm Policy: an Overview” |
1986-1988, undated |
8 |
2 |
Project 1995 - reports examining status of farm credit system |
1985 |
8 |
3 |
Reports, essays, overviews of farm crisis issues |
1985-1987, undated |
8 |
4 |
Rural Papers newsletters - agricultural and rural issues |
1985-1987 |
8 |
5 |
South Dakota-specific information - news releases |
1985-1986 |
8 |
6 |
Southwest Farm Crisis Rally; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - correspondence, announcements |
1985 |
8 |
7 |
Soviet grain embargo - history/background, article, related USDA information |
1976-2008 |
8 |
8 |
Speeches, essays, letters to the editor - various authors, some uncredited |
1985-1986, undated |
8 |
9 |
Stress resources, assistance - brochures, extension articles, newspaper articles |
1984-1986, undated |
8 |
10 |
Survey on 1985 Farm Bill by Farm Crisis Committee - results tally sheet |
1985 |
8 |
11-12 |
Survey on 1985 Farm Bill - individual survey sheets |
1985 |
9 |
1-6 |
Survey on 1985 Farm Bill - individual survey sheets |
1985 |
10 |
1-3 |
Survey on 1985 Farm Bill - individual survey sheets |
1985 |
10 |
4 |
Surveys and polls - CBS News, Farm Journal, etc., polls focusing on farm crisis |
1984-1986 |
10 |
5 |
Tax information - farm-related |
1984-1986, undated |
10 |
6 |
Testimony, statements - Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Farm Bill, related topics |
1984-1987 |
10 |
7 |
Testimony, statements, hearings - agriculture, farm credit issues |
1984-1987 |
11 |
1 |
Texas-specific papers - conference manual, news releases, article, data on Texas economy |
1985-1988, undated |
11 |
2 |
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - news releases, 1986 budget summary, conference speech, articles |
1984-1987 |
11 |
3 |
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) booklets - “Economic Indicators of the Farm Sector,” detailing production costs, with production and efficiency statistics |
1983 |
11 |
4 |
United Farmer and Rancher Congress - information regarding St. Louis conference, Farm Vote ‘86 |
1986, undated |
11 |
5 |
United Farmer and Rancher Congress - news releases, correspondence |
1986 |
11 |
6 |
Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) - articles, correspondence, newsletters |
1985-1986 |
11 |
7 |
92nd Congress, Farm Credit Act of 1971 and amendments |
1981 |
11 |
8 |
98th Congress, agriculture-related bill being considered |
1984 |
11 |
9 |
99th Congress, agriculture-related bills being considered (1 of 2) |
1985-1986 |
12 |
1 |
99th Congress, agriculture-related bills being considered (2 of 2) |
1985 |
12 |
2 |
99th Congress, reports on agricultural acts |
1985-1986 |
12 |
3 |
100th Congress, agriculture-related bills being considered |
1987 |