Farm Bureau members concerned about privacy and data issues
January 12, 2014 | 07:10 PM
SAN ANTONIO — American Farm Bureau Federation members are expected to consider resolutions here this week to deal with the increased gathering of information on farm matters by corporations and the government.
“Privacy is an issue that has grown in relevance and concern for many farmers and ranchers,” Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman said in his speech to members today.
He noted that farmers often volunteer to share information about their families on Facebook.
“As farmers and ranchers, we often choose to exchange our information for access to products and services,” Stallman said. “More farmers are using precision farming techniques to apply fertilizer and chemicals only when needed, or to more accurately control seed spacing and depth. These technologies have helped farmers to be more efficient and conserve resources.”
But he continued, “More and more farmers are rightly concerned about who owns or controls all of the information they are sending back to the companies that provide the technology.”
The questions farmers have, he said, include:
Although Farm Bureau members are expected to consider resolutions about private companies gathering data, Stallman added, “Farm Bureau has even deeper concerns when the federal government turns farmers’ private information over to activist groups — groups that can use the information to target farmers and their families because the activists don’t like what a farmer grows or how he or she grows it.”
Stallman noted that when the Environmental Protection Agency handed over hundreds of farmers’ and ranchers’ names, addresses, GPS coordinates and contact information to activist groups in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, Farm Bureau sued to prevent its release.
“We stopped EPA temporarily and continue to see a court ruling to make it permanent,” Stallman said.
“Privacy is an issue that has grown in relevance and concern for many farmers and ranchers,” Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman said in his speech to members today.
He noted that farmers often volunteer to share information about their families on Facebook.
“As farmers and ranchers, we often choose to exchange our information for access to products and services,” Stallman said. “More farmers are using precision farming techniques to apply fertilizer and chemicals only when needed, or to more accurately control seed spacing and depth. These technologies have helped farmers to be more efficient and conserve resources.”
But he continued, “More and more farmers are rightly concerned about who owns or controls all of the information they are sending back to the companies that provide the technology.”
The questions farmers have, he said, include:
- “Is the information secure?
- “Will companies use it to take advantage of market conditions to set prices?
- “Should farmers be compensated for their information? Do they understand the ramifications of turning their information over to outside parties?
- “And just who else might be able to access this information in the future?”
Although Farm Bureau members are expected to consider resolutions about private companies gathering data, Stallman added, “Farm Bureau has even deeper concerns when the federal government turns farmers’ private information over to activist groups — groups that can use the information to target farmers and their families because the activists don’t like what a farmer grows or how he or she grows it.”
Stallman noted that when the Environmental Protection Agency handed over hundreds of farmers’ and ranchers’ names, addresses, GPS coordinates and contact information to activist groups in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, Farm Bureau sued to prevent its release.
“We stopped EPA temporarily and continue to see a court ruling to make it permanent,” Stallman said.
