National Black Farmers Association Resolution

February 8, 2007 / By John Boyd, Jr

A RESOLUTION opposing Monsanto’s acquisition of Delta and Pine Land Company.

WHEREAS, the National Black Farmers Association (“NBFA”) is a community-based organization with a national presence of more than 80,000 members involved in advocacy for black and other small farmers throughout the country since 1995;

WHEREAS, there is growing concern in the black farming community over the increased consolidation in agriculture;

WHEREAS, the Monsanto Company has announced its intention to buy the largest cotton seed company in the U.S., Delta and Pine Land Company;

WHEREAS, Monsanto’s proposed acquisition of Delta and Pine Land has far-reaching anticompetitive consequences for the agricultural economy, and, if permitted, would significantly diminish competition in the seed and biotech seed trait market and result in substantial harm to farmers, and;

WHEREAS, the proposed acquisition would create a monopoly in the American cotton industry, resulting in fewer choices, less innovation, and higher prices for farmers;

Be it Resolved that the National Black Farmers Association

1. Opposes the acquisition of Delta and Pine Land by Monsanto because the acquisition will significantly limit agricultural competition to the detriment of farmers;

2. Encourages state and federal antitrust authorities to preserve agricultural competition by blocking the acquisition;

3. Encourages the Congressional Black Caucus to support black farmers by asking the Department of Justice to preserve agricultural competition by blocking the acquisition, and;

4. Authorizes the President of the NBFA to take all necessary steps to protect black farmers from the harms that would result from the proposed acquisition, including retaining legal counsel to commence litigation in the name of the organization to block the transaction under state and/or federal antitrust laws.

This resolution passed by the board of directors of the National Black Farmers Association February 8th 2007 during the NBFA Conference in Dallas TX