HOW MANY FARMERS DOES THE PENNSYLVANIA FARM BUREAU REPRESENT?

Pa. Farm Bureau advertising display shows actual membership as of November 2018. The image breaks down the total membership. Regular members/farmers that can vote on Pa. Farm Bureau issues and Associate members/non-farmer who have no voting authority at all

HOW MANY FARMERS DOES THE PENNSYLVANIA FARM BUREAU REPRESENT? “Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization with a volunteer membership of more than 62,000 farm and rural families, representing farms of every size and commodity across Pennsylvania,” July 10, 2017 press release. Just ask any of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau leadership and this is the first thing they will gladly tell you.  But do they really? The short answer is no.  Fact is Pa. Farm Bureau only represents 22,648 voting members who are actual farmers.  These are the only people that matter when it comes to PFB issues and voting.  No one else can vote. The two different memberships are explained on pfb.com [PFB website]. “Voting members decide our organization’s priorities and related activity and have the opportunity to participate in the development of Farm Bureau’s policies on a broad range of issues.” 1) Farmer Member [total of 22,648] - a person who is actively engaged in the production of agricultural products, whose principal occupation is farming. Only Farmer members have the privilege of voting on Farm Bureau policy issues. 2) Non-Farmer Member [total of 39,357] - anyone who is interested in agriculture and where their food comes from, whose family or livelihood benefits from agriculture or is involved with agriculture on a part-time basis. Non-farmer members are able to utilize most privileges of membership (except for voting on Farm Bureau policy issues). These member numbers, definition, and authority within the PFB structure are extremely important. They are definitely worth taking note of and paying attention too [yes, you Pa. legislature, the PFB is not as strong as they want you to believe]. When you break it down there are more non-members without any type of influence than there are members with full privileges. This all leads to a bigger question;  Why the secrecy?  Is Pa. Farm Bureau afraid they won’t be taken seriously.  Or is it that the paper tiger is less scary when viewed in the correct light. It is almost as if Pa. Farm Bureau is embarrassed by how few farmers are in the organization. Probably for good reason. Data from an October 2018 survey titled Pennsylvania 2017 State Agriculture Overview shows there are 58,000 farm operations in the state. With less than half the available farmers choosing to not be in or join Pa. Farm Bureau.  There is obvious truth to statements from farmers who say ‘the Pa. Farm Bureau does not represent me.’

Reference

Pfb.com

https://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/Ag_Overview/stateOverview.php?state=PENNSYLVANIA