Part 9 (1/2)

143 ”We have a saying at this company”: ”We have a saying at this company”: Quoted in Kurt Eichenwald, ”Videotapes Take Star Role at Archers Daniels Midland Trial,” Quoted in Kurt Eichenwald, ”Videotapes Take Star Role at Archers Daniels Midland Trial,” New York Times New York Times, August 4, 1998.

many ranchers were afraid to testify: See Concentration in Agriculture, pp. 7, 2930.

144 ”It makes no sense for us”: ”It makes no sense for us”: Quoted in Kevin O' Hanlon, ”Judge Clears Way for Al-abama Lawsuit Against Nation's Largest Meatpacker,” Quoted in Kevin O' Hanlon, ”Judge Clears Way for Al-abama Lawsuit Against Nation's Largest Meatpacker,” a.s.sociated Press a.s.sociated Press, May 4, 1999.

Colorado has lost roughly 1.5 million acres: Cited in ”A Report on the Conversion of Agricultural Land in Colorado,” Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Governor's Task Force on Agricultural Lands, 1997. Cited in ”A Report on the Conversion of Agricultural Land in Colorado,” Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Governor's Task Force on Agricultural Lands, 1997.eight of the nation's top ten TV shows: Cited in White, Cited in White, It's Your Misfortune and None of My Own It's Your Misfortune and None of My Own, p. 613.

145 The median age of Colorado's ranchers and farmers: The median age of Colorado's ranchers and farmers: Cited in Sam Bingham, ”Cattlemen Organize Land Trust: Ranchers' Group Works to Keep Colorado Properties Agricultural,” Cited in Sam Bingham, ”Cattlemen Organize Land Trust: Ranchers' Group Works to Keep Colorado Properties Agricultural,” Denver Post Denver Post, June 22, 1997.

thus far protected about 40,000 acres: Interview with Lynne Sherrod, executive director, Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust. Interview with Lynne Sherrod, executive director, Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust.vanis.h.i.+ng at the rate of about 90,000 acres a year: Cited in ”Loss of Agricultural Land Figures for Colorado,” Memorandum by David Carlson, resource a.n.a.lyst, Colorado Department of Agriculture, January 8, 1998. Cited in ”Loss of Agricultural Land Figures for Colorado,” Memorandum by David Carlson, resource a.n.a.lyst, Colorado Department of Agriculture, January 8, 1998.

146 The suicide rate among ranchers and farmers: The suicide rate among ranchers and farmers: The statistic comes from Florence Williams, ”Farmed Out,” The statistic comes from Florence Williams, ”Farmed Out,” New Republic New Republic, August 16, 1999.

147 ”To fail several generations of relatives”: ”To fail several generations of relatives”: Osha Gray Davidson, Osha Gray Davidson, Broken Heartland: The Rise of America's Rural Ghetto Broken Heartland: The Rise of America's Rural Ghetto (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1996), p. 95. (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1996), p. 95.

7. Cogs in the Great Machine Upton Sinclair's The Jungle The Jungle (1906; reprint, New York: Bantam Books, 1981) unfortunately remains the essential starting point for an understanding of America's meatpacking industry today. Nearly a century after the book's publication, many of the descriptive pa.s.sages still ring true. Sinclair's prescription for reform, however - his call for a centralized, socialized, highly industrialized agriculture - shows how even the best of intentions can lead to disaster. For a contemporary view of nineteenth-century meatpacking, I relied mainly on Yeager, (1906; reprint, New York: Bantam Books, 1981) unfortunately remains the essential starting point for an understanding of America's meatpacking industry today. Nearly a century after the book's publication, many of the descriptive pa.s.sages still ring true. Sinclair's prescription for reform, however - his call for a centralized, socialized, highly industrialized agriculture - shows how even the best of intentions can lead to disaster. For a contemporary view of nineteenth-century meatpacking, I relied mainly on Yeager, Compet.i.tion and Regulation Compet.i.tion and Regulation and Skaggs, and Skaggs, Prime Cut Prime Cut. For the struggle to improve working conditions in Chicago's Packingtown, see Unionizing the Jungles: Labor and Community in the Twentieth Century Meatpacking Industry Unionizing the Jungles: Labor and Community in the Twentieth Century Meatpacking Industry, edited by Shelton Stromquist and Marvin Bergman (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1997). One of the essays in the book, ”The Swift Difference,” by Paul Street, gives a strong sense of the corporate paternalism and decent working conditions that were later eliminated by the ”IBP revolution.” For an account of that revolution's leaders.h.i.+p, see Jonathan Kwitny, Vicious Circles: The Mafia in the Marketplace Vicious Circles: The Mafia in the Marketplace (New York: W. W. Norton, 1979); James Cook and Jane Carmichael, ”The Mob's Legitimate Connections,” (New York: W. W. Norton, 1979); James Cook and Jane Carmichael, ”The Mob's Legitimate Connections,” Forbes Forbes, November 24, 1980; and James Cook, ”Those Simple, Barefoot Boys from Iowa Beef,” Forbes Forbes, June 22, 1981. Also see the inadvertently revealing corporate history by Jane E. Limprecht, ConAgra Who ConAgra Who? $15 Billion and Growing $15 Billion and Growing (Omaha: ConAgra, 1989). Jeremy Rifkin's (Omaha: ConAgra, 1989). Jeremy Rifkin's Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture (New York: Penguin, 1993) is a provocative diatribe against ”the industrialization of beef.” Kathleen Meister's response to Rifkin, ”The Beef Controversy,” (New York: Penguin, 1993) is a provocative diatribe against ”the industrialization of beef.” Kathleen Meister's response to Rifkin, ”The Beef Controversy,” American Council on Science and Health Special Reports American Council on Science and Health Special Reports, August 31, 1993, is less convincing, but makes a number of good points. Osha Gray Davidson's Broken Heartland Broken Heartland does a fine job of explaining the root causes and social implications of the rising poverty in America's meatpacking towns. Carol Andreas's does a fine job of explaining the root causes and social implications of the rising poverty in America's meatpacking towns. Carol Andreas's Meatpackers and Beef Barons: Company Town in a Global Economy Meatpackers and Beef Barons: Company Town in a Global Economy (Niwot: University Press of Colorado, 1994) examines the recent transformation of Greeley. I am grateful to Ms. Andreas for discussing her work at length with me. (Niwot: University Press of Colorado, 1994) examines the recent transformation of Greeley. I am grateful to Ms. Andreas for discussing her work at length with me.

In Greeley, many former and current Monfort employees - some at the managerial level - shared their perspective on changes at the company after its sale to ConAgra; at their request, I have not included their names. I am grateful to Javier and Ruben Ramirez for the many hours they spent with me discussing the labor histories of Greeley and Chicago. For a straightforward a.n.a.lysis of structural changes in the cattle business, see James M. MacDonald and Michael Ollinger, ”U.S. Meat Slaughter Consolidating Rapidly,” USDA Food Review USDA Food Review, May 1, 1997. The best book on today's meatpacking industry is Any Way You Cut It: Meat Processing and Small-Town America Any Way You Cut It: Meat Processing and Small-Town America (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1995), edited by Donald D. Stull, Michael J. Broadway, and David Griffith. The essays by Lourdes Gouveia, Donald D. Stull, Mark Grey, and Steve Bjerklie were especially useful to me. I am indebted to Ms. Gouveia, a professor of sociology at the University of NebraskaOmaha, whose work on the recent changes in Lexington, Nebraska, is exemplary and who helped me contact people there. Her essay ”Global Strategies and Local Linkages: The Case of the U.S. Meatpacking Industry” is well worth reading, as is the rest of the book in which it appears: (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1995), edited by Donald D. Stull, Michael J. Broadway, and David Griffith. The essays by Lourdes Gouveia, Donald D. Stull, Mark Grey, and Steve Bjerklie were especially useful to me. I am indebted to Ms. Gouveia, a professor of sociology at the University of NebraskaOmaha, whose work on the recent changes in Lexington, Nebraska, is exemplary and who helped me contact people there. Her essay ”Global Strategies and Local Linkages: The Case of the U.S. Meatpacking Industry” is well worth reading, as is the rest of the book in which it appears: From Columbus to ConAgra: The Globalization of Agriculture and Food From Columbus to ConAgra: The Globalization of Agriculture and Food, edited by Alessandro Bonanno, Lawrence Busch, William H. Friedland, Lourdes Gouveia, and Enzo Mingione (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1994). For a government report that belatedly confirms many of the findings made by Stull, Grey, Davidson, Gouveia, and others, see ”Community Development: Changes in Nebraska's and Iowa's Counties With Large Meatpacking Plant Workforces,” Report to Congressional Requesters Report to Congressional Requesters, United States General Accounting Office, February 1998. Milo Muungard, the executive director of Nebraska's Appleseed Center, gave me useful material on the social and environmental effects of a migrant industrial workforce. Greg Lauby, an attorney whose family has lived in Lexington, Nebraska, for generations, graciously shared his knowledge of the town's history, its residents, its recent changes - and the reasons for its smell. I am particularly grateful to the many IBP workers who invited me into their homes and told me their stories.

Page 150 earns more money every year from livestock products: earns more money every year from livestock products: 1997 1997 Census of Agriculture Census of Agriculture (Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.: U.S. Department of Commerce), p. 36. (Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.: U.S. Department of Commerce), p. 36.

150 the largest private employer in Weld County: the largest private employer in Weld County: Indeed, a recent study by two Colorado State University economists found that ConAgra's facilities are ”practically synonymous with Greeley and Weld County.” Andrew Seidl and Stephan Weiler, ”The Estimated Value of ConAgra Packing Plants in Weld County, CO,” Indeed, a recent study by two Colorado State University economists found that ConAgra's facilities are ”practically synonymous with Greeley and Weld County.” Andrew Seidl and Stephan Weiler, ”The Estimated Value of ConAgra Packing Plants in Weld County, CO,” Agricultural and Resource Policy Report Agricultural and Resource Policy Report, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, Fort Collins, February 2000, p. 3.

A typical steer will consume: Interview with Mike Callicrate, Kansas feedlot operator. Interview with Mike Callicrate, Kansas feedlot operator.deposits about fifty pounds of manure: The figure was determined by researchers at Colorado State University. Cited in Mark Obmascik, ”As Greeley Ponders Tax, Cows Keep On Doing Their Thing,” The figure was determined by researchers at Colorado State University. Cited in Mark Obmascik, ”As Greeley Ponders Tax, Cows Keep On Doing Their Thing,” Denver Post Denver Post, July 29, 1995.produce more excrement than the cities: According to O. W. Charles, of the Extension Poultry Science Department of the University of Georgia, one head of cattle generates the same amount of waste as 16.4 people. Cited in Eric R. Haapapuro, Neal D. Barnard, and Michele Simon, ”Animal Waste Used as Livestock Feed: Dangers to Human Health,” According to O. W. Charles, of the Extension Poultry Science Department of the University of Georgia, one head of cattle generates the same amount of waste as 16.4 people. Cited in Eric R. Haapapuro, Neal D. Barnard, and Michele Simon, ”Animal Waste Used as Livestock Feed: Dangers to Human Health,” Preventive Medicine Preventive Medicine, September/October 1997. Using that ratio, the roughly 200,000 cattle in Monfort's two Weld County feedlots produce an amount of waste equivalent to that of about 3.2 million people. The combined populations of Denver (about 500,000), Boston (about 550,000), Atlanta (about 400,000), and St. Louis (about 375,00) produce much less execrement than Greeley's cattle.it was a utopian community: My account of early Greeley is based on Mike Peters, ”Meeker Killed on Western Slope,” My account of early Greeley is based on Mike Peters, ”Meeker Killed on Western Slope,” Greeley Tribune Greeley Tribune, 1998; Mike Peters, ”Controversy over Cattle Ranches Leads to 'The Fence,'” Greeley Tribune Greeley Tribune, 1998; and Carl Ubbelohde, Maxine Benson, Duane A. Smith, A Colorado History A Colorado History (Boulder, Colo.: Pruett Publis.h.i.+ng Company, 1995), pp. 12332. (Boulder, Colo.: Pruett Publis.h.i.+ng Company, 1995), pp. 12332.

151 started his business in the 1930s with eighteen head: started his business in the 1930s with eighteen head: See Curt Olsen, ”Monforts: Changing the Way the World Is Fed,” See Curt Olsen, ”Monforts: Changing the Way the World Is Fed,” National Cattlemen National Cattlemen, August 1997.

a place on President Nixon's ”enemies list”: See ”Beef Baron,” See ”Beef Baron,” Rocky Mountain News Sunday Magazine Rocky Mountain News Sunday Magazine, May 3, 1987.”If I can ever be of help”: Quoted in Andreas, Quoted in Andreas, Meatpackers and Beef Barons Meatpackers and Beef Barons, p. 37.

152 ”the greatest aggregation”: ”the greatest aggregation”: Sinclair, Sinclair, Jungle Jungle, p. 40.

”cogs in the great packing machine”: Ibid., p. 78. Ibid., p. 78.”conditions that are entirely unnecessary”: Quoted in Yeager, Quoted in Yeager, Compet.i.tion and Regulation Compet.i.tion and Regulation, p. 200.

153 ”I aimed for the public's heart”: ”I aimed for the public's heart”: Quoted in Skaggs, Quoted in Skaggs, Prime Cut Prime Cut, p. 118.

paid the industry's highest wages: See Stromquist and Bergman, See Stromquist and Bergman, Unionizing the Jungles Unionizing the Jungles, pp. 2533.

154 ”We've tried to take the skill out”: ”We've tried to take the skill out”: Quoted in Stull et al., Quoted in Stull et al., Any Way You Cut It Any Way You Cut It, p. 19.

as though it were waging war: Holman is quoted in Christopher Drew, ”A Chain of Setbacks for Meat Workers,” Holman is quoted in Christopher Drew, ”A Chain of Setbacks for Meat Workers,” Chicago Tribune Chicago Tribune, October 25, 1988.close ties with La Cosa Nostra: Steinman was a central figure in New York City's meat business, dominated at the time by the Lucchese and Gambino crime families. See Kwitny, Steinman was a central figure in New York City's meat business, dominated at the time by the Lucchese and Gambino crime families. See Kwitny, Vicious Circles Vicious Circles, pp. 25253.

155 a five-cent ”commission”: a five-cent ”commission”: The arrangement, technically, was a fifty-cent commission for every hundred pounds. Ibid., p. 301. The arrangement, technically, was a fifty-cent commission for every hundred pounds. Ibid., p. 301.

155 ”knew virtually nothing about the meat business”: ”knew virtually nothing about the meat business”: Quoted ibid., p. 375. Quoted ibid., p. 375.

investigations by Forbes Forbes and the and the Wall Street Journal: Jonathan Kwitny, the Wall Street Journal: Jonathan Kwitny, the Journal Journal reporter, and James Cook and Jane Carmichael, writing for reporter, and James Cook and Jane Carmichael, writing for Forbes Forbes, drew somewhat different conclusions about the meaning of the IBP case. Kwitny was outraged, arguing that it was as though ”the Mafia had moved into... the oil industry, bringing Exxon to its knees.” Cook and Carmichael were more detached and pragmatic. ”The ordeal of Iowa Beef Processors shows as clearly as anything can,” they wrote, ”how legitimate business can become linked with organized crime, to their mutual benefit.” Kwitny, Vicious Circles Vicious Circles, p. 252; Cook and Carmichael, ”Mob's Legitimate Connections.”wages that were sometimes more than 50 percent lower: While Swift and Armour were paying $17 to $18 an hour, IBP was paying just $8. See Winston Williams, ”An Upheaval in Meatpacking,” While Swift and Armour were paying $17 to $18 an hour, IBP was paying just $8. See Winston Williams, ”An Upheaval in Meatpacking,” New York Times, New York Times, June 20, 1983. See also Cook, ”Those Simple, Barefoot Boys.” June 20, 1983. See also Cook, ”Those Simple, Barefoot Boys.”once employed 40,000 people: According to Erin Troya of the Chicago Historical Society, Packingtown employed about 40,000 workers at its peak during the 1920s. The current estimate of 2,000 comes from Ruben Ramirez. Dot McGrier, at the U.S. Census Bureau, says that Chicago now has a total of 6,000 meatpacking workers, but most of them are employed in the Watermarket area on the western edge of the city. According to Erin Troya of the Chicago Historical Society, Packingtown employed about 40,000 workers at its peak during the 1920s. The current estimate of 2,000 comes from Ruben Ramirez. Dot McGrier, at the U.S. Census Bureau, says that Chicago now has a total of 6,000 meatpacking workers, but most of them are employed in the Watermarket area on the western edge of the city.

157 a sweetheart deal with the National Maritime Union: a sweetheart deal with the National Maritime Union: See Bill Saporito, ”Unions Fight the Corporate Sell-Off,” See Bill Saporito, ”Unions Fight the Corporate Sell-Off,” Fortune Fortune, July 11, 1983; Jim Morris, ”Easy Prey: Harsh work for Immigrants,” Houston Chronicle Houston Chronicle, June 26, 1995; Andreas, Meatpackers and Beef Barons Meatpackers and Beef Barons, p. 68.

158 wages that had been cut by 40 percent: wages that had been cut by 40 percent: Andreas, Andreas, Meatpackers and Beef Barons Meatpackers and Beef Barons, p. 98.

”if the industry was going to be concentrated”: Quoted ibid., p. 76. Quoted ibid., p. 76.the largest foodservice supplier: Interview with Karen Savinski, director of corporate communications, ConAgra. Interview with Karen Savinski, director of corporate communications, ConAgra.

159 annual revenues of about $500 million: annual revenues of about $500 million: Cited in Limprecht, Cited in Limprecht, ConAgra Who? ConAgra Who?, p. 98.

the market value of its stock: Ibid., p. 7. Ibid., p. 7.”Harper told each general manager”: Quoted ibid., p. 12. Quoted ibid., p. 12.”Patience, my a.s.s”: Ibid., p. 120. Ibid., p. 120.45,256 truckloads: See Tom Hughes, ”Alabama Growers' Court Settlement Not Chicken Feed,” See Tom Hughes, ”Alabama Growers' Court Settlement Not Chicken Feed,” Montgomery Advertiser Montgomery Advertiser, October 7, 1992. See also Richard Gibson, ”ConAgra Settles Case of Cheating By Bird Weighers,” Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal, October 9, 1992.ConAgra agreed to pay $13.6 million: Cited in Richard Gibson, ”ConAgra, Hormel Pay a Pretty Penny in an Ugly Catfish Price-Fixing Case,” Cited in Richard Gibson, ”ConAgra, Hormel Pay a Pretty Penny in an Ugly Catfish Price-Fixing Case,” Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal, December 29, 1995.ConAgra paid $8.3 million in fines: See See ”ConAgra Pays ”ConAgra Pays $8.3 Million in Penalties for Fraud Scheme,” $8.3 Million in Penalties for Fraud Scheme,” Federal Department and Agency Doc.u.ments Federal Department and Agency Doc.u.ments, March 19, 1997. See also Scott Kilman, ”ConAgra to Pay $8.3 Million to Settle Fraud Charges in Grain-Handling Case,” Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal, March 20, 1997.

160 more than five thousand different people were employed: more than five thousand different people were employed: Cited in ”Here's the Beef: Underreporting of Injuries, OSHA's Policy of Exempting Companies from Programmed Inspections Based on Injury Records, and Unsafe Conditions in the Meatpacking Industry,” Cited in ”Here's the Beef: Underreporting of Injuries, OSHA's Policy of Exempting Companies from Programmed Inspections Based on Injury Records, and Unsafe Conditions in the Meatpacking Industry,” Forty-Second Report by the Committee on Government and Operations Forty-Second Report by the Committee on Government and Operations (Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1988), p. 12. (Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1988), p. 12.

160 roughly two-thirds of the workers at the beef plant: roughly two-thirds of the workers at the beef plant: Interview with Javier Ramirez, former president of UFCW Local 990, Greeley, Colorado. Interview with Javier Ramirez, former president of UFCW Local 990, Greeley, Colorado.

A spokesman for ConAgra recently acknowledged: Interview with Brett Fox, director of industry affairs and media relations, ConAgra Beef Company. Interview with Brett Fox, director of industry affairs and media relations, ConAgra Beef Company.”There is a 100 percent turnover rate annually”: Quoted in James M. Burcke, ”1994 Risk Manager of the Year: Meatpacker's Losses Trimmed Down to Size,” Quoted in James M. Burcke, ”1994 Risk Manager of the Year: Meatpacker's Losses Trimmed Down to Size,” Business Insurance Business Insurance, April 18, 1994.

161 Arden Walker, the head of labor relations at IBP: Arden Walker, the head of labor relations at IBP: Quoted in ”Here's the Beef,” p. 11. Quoted in ”Here's the Beef,” p. 11.

162 Picking strawberries in California pays: Picking strawberries in California pays: For the role and the wages of Latino mi-grants in California agriculture, see Schlosser, ”In the Strawberry Fields.” For the role and the wages of Latino mi-grants in California agriculture, see Schlosser, ”In the Strawberry Fields.”

refugees and asylum-seekers... homeless people living at shelters: See ”IBP; Meat Processing Plant Fails to Uphold Social Contract with Waterloo, Iowa; Crime and Homelessness Increase,” See ”IBP; Meat Processing Plant Fails to Uphold Social Contract with Waterloo, Iowa; Crime and Homelessness Increase,” 60 Minutes 60 Minutes, CBS News transcripts, March 9, 1997; ”IBP's Hiring Reflects Evolution of Meatpacking Industry,” Quad-City Times Quad-City Times, June 30, 1997; Marc Cooper, ”The Heartland's Raw Deal: How Meatpacking Is Creating a New Immigrant Undercla.s.s,” Nation Nation, February 3, 1997; and George Rodrigue, ”Packing Them In: Meat Processing Firm's Hiring of Ex-Welfare Recipients Questioned,” Dallas Morning News Dallas Morning News, September 25, 1997.a labor office in Mexico City: See Laurie Cohen, ”Free Ride: With Help from INS, U.S. Meatpacker Taps Mexican Work Force,” See Laurie Cohen, ”Free Ride: With Help from INS, U.S. Meatpacker Taps Mexican Work Force,” Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal, October 15, 1998.one-quarter of all meatpacking workers in Iowa: Cited in ”Changes in Nebraska's and Iowa's Counties with Large Meatpacking Plant Workforces,” Cited in ”Changes in Nebraska's and Iowa's Counties with Large Meatpacking Plant Workforces,” GAO Reports GAO Reports, p. 15.Spokesmen for IBP and the ConAgra Beef Company: Fox interview; interview with Gary Mickelson, IBP Public Affairs Department. Fox interview; interview with Gary Mickelson, IBP Public Affairs Department.”If they've got a pulse”: Quoted in Rick Ruggles, ”INS: Undoc.u.mented Workers Face New Meat-Plant Tactics,” Quoted in Rick Ruggles, ”INS: Undoc.u.mented Workers Face New Meat-Plant Tactics,” Omaha World-Herald Omaha World-Herald, September 11, 1998.In September of 1994, GFI America: See Joe Rigert and Richard Meryhew, ”Food Company Takes Hired Workers to Homeless Shelter,” See Joe Rigert and Richard Meryhew, ”Food Company Takes Hired Workers to Homeless Shelter,” Minneapolis Star Tribune Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 14, 1994; Tony Kennedy, ”International Dairy Queen to Review Its Relations.h.i.+p with Meat Supplier GFI,” Minneapolis Star-Tribune Minneapolis Star-Tribune, September 15, 1994; and ”GFI's Frugal Ways Led to Problems for Some Workers,” Minneapolis Star-Tribune Minneapolis Star-Tribune, December 9,1994.

163 ”Our job is not to provide”: ”Our job is not to provide”: Quoted in Rigert and Meryhew, ”Food Company Takes Hired Workers.” Quoted in Rigert and Meryhew, ”Food Company Takes Hired Workers.”

Mike Harper personally stood to gain: Cited in ”Capital Gains Exclusion Would Benefit Key Backers,” Cited in ”Capital Gains Exclusion Would Benefit Key Backers,” UPI UPI, April 19, 1987.

164 called Harper's demands ”blackmail”: called Harper's demands ”blackmail”: See Limprecht, See Limprecht, ConAgra Who? ConAgra Who?, p. 269.

”Some Friday night, we turn out the lights”: Quoted in Dennis Farney, ”Nebraska, Hungry of Jobs, Grants Big Business Big Tax Breaks Despite Charges of 'Blackmail,'” Quoted in Dennis Farney, ”Nebraska, Hungry of Jobs, Grants Big Business Big Tax Breaks Despite Charges of 'Blackmail,'” Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal, June 23, 1987.

164 after the revision of the state's tax code: after the revision of the state's tax code: See Henry J. Cordes, ”Did It Prime the Pump? Report Questions Economic Incentives,” See Henry J. Cordes, ”Did It Prime the Pump? Report Questions Economic Incentives,” Omaha World-Herald Omaha World-Herald, December 28, 1997. Ernie Goss, an economist at Creighton University, thinks the estimate of $13,000 to $23,000 is fair. Interview with Ernie Goss.

like giving his employees a 7 percent raise...”The move shows you how ungrateful”: Quoted in John Taylor, ”IBP's Move Prompts Look at Tax Policy,” Quoted in John Taylor, ”IBP's Move Prompts Look at Tax Policy,” Omaha World-Herald Omaha World-Herald, June 13, 1996.a $300,000 loan: See Kenneth B. n.o.ble, ”Signs of Violence in Meat Plant's Lockout,” See Kenneth B. n.o.ble, ”Signs of Violence in Meat Plant's Lockout,” New York Times New York Times, January 18, 1987.

165 the highest crime rate in the state of Nebraska: the highest crime rate in the state of Nebraska: See Robert A. Hackenberg, David Griffith, Donald Stull, and Lourdes Gouveia, ”Creating a Disposable Labor Force,” See Robert A. Hackenberg, David Griffith, Donald Stull, and Lourdes Gouveia, ”Creating a Disposable Labor Force,” Aspen Inst.i.tute Quarterly Aspen Inst.i.tute Quarterly 5, no. 2 (Spring 1993), p. 92. 5, no. 2 (Spring 1993), p. 92.

the number of serious crimes doubled: Cited in ”Changes in Nebraska's and Iowa's Counties with Large Meatpacking Plant Workforces,” Cited in ”Changes in Nebraska's and Iowa's Counties with Large Meatpacking Plant Workforces,” GAO Report GAO Report, p. 39.the number of Medicaid cases nearly doubled: Ibid., p. 36. Ibid., p. 36.a major distribution center for illegal drugs; gang members appeared in town: See Richard A. Serrano, ”Mexican Drug Cartels Target U.S. Heartland: Officials Say Illegal Immigrants are Using Interstates as Pipeline to Bring Cocaine, Meth-amphetamines to Midwest and Rocky Mountain Areas Where Abuse Is Burgeoning,” See Richard A. Serrano, ”Mexican Drug Cartels Target U.S. Heartland: Officials Say Illegal Immigrants are Using Interstates as Pipeline to Bring Cocaine, Meth-amphetamines to Midwest and Rocky Mountain Areas Where Abuse Is Burgeoning,” Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times, December 10, 1997; Jennifer Dukes Lee, ”Meatpacking Towns Seen As Key Funnel for Meth,” Des Moines Register Des Moines Register, March 7, 1999.the majority of Lexington's white inhabitants... the proportion of Latino inhabitants: Lexington is the princ.i.p.al city in Dawson County, and in 1990, 4.7 percent of the county's population was Latino, according to census figures. A recount in 1993 found the Latino population to be almost 30 percent and expected to reach 50 percent within three years. Cited in Lourdes Gouveia, ”From the Beet Fields to the Kill Floors: Latinos in Nebraska's Meatpacking Communities,” unpublished ma.n.u.script. Lexington is the princ.i.p.al city in Dawson County, and in 1990, 4.7 percent of the county's population was Latino, according to census figures. A recount in 1993 found the Latino population to be almost 30 percent and expected to reach 50 percent within three years. Cited in Lourdes Gouveia, ”From the Beet Fields to the Kill Floors: Latinos in Nebraska's Meatpacking Communities,” unpublished ma.n.u.script.”Mexington”: For some of the positive effects of the new immigration wave, see Edwin Garcia and Ben Stocking, ”Latinos on the Move to a New Promised Land,” For some of the positive effects of the new immigration wave, see Edwin Garcia and Ben Stocking, ”Latinos on the Move to a New Promised Land,” San Jose Mercury News San Jose Mercury News, August 16, 1998.”We have three odors”: Quoted in Melody M. Loughry, ”Issues Now,” Quoted in Melody M. Loughry, ”Issues Now,” North Platte Resident North Platte Resident, January 15,1996.the Justice Department sued IBP: See Elliot Blair Smith, ”Stench Chokes Meatpacking Towns,” See Elliot Blair Smith, ”Stench Chokes Meatpacking Towns,” USA Today USA Today, February 14, 2000; ”U.S. Sues Meatpacking Giant for Violating Numerous Environmental Laws in Midwest,” press release, Environmental Protection Agency, January 12, 2000.”This agreement means”: Quoted in ”Meatpacker Must Cut Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions at Nebraska Plant,” press release, Environmental Protection Agency, May 24, 2000. Quoted in ”Meatpacker Must Cut Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions at Nebraska Plant,” press release, Environmental Protection Agency, May 24, 2000.