UNICEF: Executive Board: Ann M. Veneman reflects on her term as Executive Director youtube

Ann M. Veneman sourcewatch
EXCERPTs:
1) Agribusiness Connections
The Center for Responsive Politics includes the biotech and agribusiness firms Calgene, Monsanto and Pharmacia among Veneman's corporate connections. Their opensecrets.org website details a history of movement between government and industry:

Between her tenure at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (under George Bush Sr.) and being named head of California's Department of Food and Agriculture in 1995, Ann Veneman served on the board of directors for Calgene Inc. In 1994, Calgene became the first company to bring genetically-engineered food, the Flavr Savr tomato, to supermarket shelves. Calgene was bought out by Monsanto, the nation's leading biotech company, in 1997. Monsanto, in turn, became part of pharmaceutical company Pharmacia in 2000. Monsanto, which donated more than $12,000 to George Bush's presidential bid, wants two things this year: no mandatory labeling of biotech foods and better access to international markets. Veneman also served on the International Policy Council on Agriculture, Food and Trade, a group funded by Cargill, Nestle, Kraft, and Archer Daniels Midland. [4]
2) Smaller Ranchers, Farmers Wanted Her Out
Bill Bullard, chief executive of the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (also known as R-CALF USA), called Veneman's tenure "disappointing." R-CALF was very critical of the Secretary's response to mad cow disease, and after "exhaust[ing] all of our administrative remedies," filed suit against USDA to prevent them from easing restrictions on the import of live Canadian cattle and beef products. [12]

According to Agriculture Online, Veneman was not popular with ordinary farmers, either. While "69% of visitors to Agriculture Online who responded to a pre-election poll favored Bush ... the exact same percentage wanted Veneman out in the days after the election." When asked why Veneman was so unpopular, Arkansas farmer Tom Burnham replied, "Because she is a corporate lackey." [13]

Particular USDA policy stances opposed by farmers included Veneman's supporting the Pork Checkoff program after farmers voted against it; her fighting against "country of origin labeling on behalf of meat packers"; noting actively helping to draft the 2002 Farm Bill; and delays with implementing parts of the 2002 Farm Bill and with setting rules for the Conservation Security Program. [14]