Western Organization of Resource Councils
2401 Montana Avenue, Suite 301, Billings, MT 59101
Phone 406-252-9672 | Fax 406-252-1092 | Email billings@worc.org

American Corn Growers Association During the congressional battle over the 2002 farm bill, both the American Corn Growers Association and the Western Organization of Resource Councils (along with 38 other anti-consumer agriculture groups) signed a letter to the members of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee. The letter encouraged Congress to adopt the terms of Senator Harkin’s “competition title,” which would have made it illegal for meatpackers to own their own beef cattle. Although this maneuver ultimately failed, it demonstrates the lengths to which some organizations will go to unfairly tilt the playing field in their favor: rather than competing with packers, groups like ACGA and WORC sought to eliminate them from the economy entirely.

Dakota Resource Council The Western Organization of Resource Councils is the parent organization of the Dakota Resource Council. DRC receives regular funding from WORC, as do all of the other “sister” groups in the WORC consortium. DRC is also guaranteed representation on WORC’s board.

Dakota Rural Action The Western Organization of Resource Councils is the parent organization of Dakota Rural Action. DRA holds seats on WORC’s board, and regularly receives funding from WORC. In addition, WORC facilitates the sharing of resources among all of its member groups.

Idaho Rural Council The Western Organization of Resource Councils is the parent organization of the Idaho Rural Council. IRC holds a fixed number of seats on the WORC board of directors; WORC regularly funds all of its sub-groups, although each organization sets its own policy (presumably according to the will of their sponsors).

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy The Western Organization of Resource Councils and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy are both charter members of the Global Safe Food Alliance, an animal-rights front group set up to push the notion that nationwide, “grass roots” support exists for a wholesale overhaul in the way farm animals are raised for food. The coalition also tries to connect food safety with “humane” farm animal treatment in the public consciousness. Predictably, its proposals would dramatically increase the final cost of all sorts of food, including beef, poultry, pork, eggs, milk, and other dairy products. Other members include the Organic Consumer Association, the Humane Farming Association, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, the Organic Consumers Association, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Public Citizen and the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment.

Natural Resources Defense Council Natural Resources Defense Council has collaborated with the Western Organization of Resource Councils in the past, most notably on matters of mining policy. During the years of the Clinton administration, NRDC and WORC co-signed at least three letters to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, urging that stricter standards be used for determining mining rights for coal in Western states. In one case, the two groups joined with Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace to sue the Bureau of Land Management over the terms of its coal mining-rights leasing program.

Northern Plains Resource Council The Western Organization of Resource Councils is the parent organization of the Northern Plains Resource Council, although NPRC is an older organization. WORC came into existence after a second “resource council” group was created, and today serves as a networking agent between all of its member organizations. NPRC has representation on WORC’s board, and regularly receives funding from WORC.

Organic Consumers Association The Western Organization of Resource Councils and the Organic Consumers Association are both charter members of the Global Safe Food Alliance (GSFA), a front group set up by animal-rights organizations like Farm Sanctuary and the Humane Farming Association. The coalition’s purpose is to bamboozle the mass media with the suggestion that there is nationwide, “grass roots” support for a wholesale overhaul in the way farm animals are raised for food. GSFA also tries to connect food safety with “humane” farm animal treatment in the public consciousness. Predictably, its proposals would dramatically raise the final cost of meat, milk, dairy products, and eggs to consumers. Other members include the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the Humane Farming Association, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, the Organic Consumers Association, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Public Citizen and the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine The Western Organization of Resource Councils and PCRM are both charter members of the Global Safe Food Alliance, a front group set up by animal-rights organizations. The coalition’s goal is to convince media outlets that there is “grass roots” support for a wholesale overhaul in the way farm animals are raised for food. It also tries to connect food safety with “humane” farm animal treatment in the public consciousness. Predictably, the Global Safe Food Alliance’s proposals would increase the cost of food to consumers, all in the name of animal “rights.” Other members include the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the Humane Farming Association, Farm Sanctuary, United Poultry Concerns, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, the Organic Consumers Association, Public Citizen, and the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment.

Powder River Basin Resource Council The Western Organization of Resource Councils is the parent organization of the Powder River Basin Resource Council. PRBRC has permanent seats on WORC’s board of directors, and regularly networks with WORC’s other member groups. WORC also regularly funds PRBRC in modest-to-medium amounts.

Sierra Club The Sierra Club promotes the Western Organization of Resource Councils as an authority on pollution and "responsible trade" policy on its website. The two groups teamed up in 1984 to lobby against federal coal-mining leases.

Tides Foundation & Tides Center The Tides Foundation has granted over $250,000 directly to the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), beginning with a $25,000 grant in 1999. But this represents barely half of Tides real contribution, as several WORC member groups have received their own pieces of the Tides pie.

United Poultry Concerns The Western Organization of Resource Councils and United Poultry Concerns are both charter members of the Global Safe Food Alliance, a front group set up by animal-rights organizations like Farm Sanctuary and the Animal Welfare Institute. The coalition’s purpose is to suggest that there is “grass roots” support for a wholesale overhaul in the way farm animals are raised for food; it also tries to connect food safety with “humane” farm animal treatment in the public consciousness. Without exception, the Global Safe Food Alliance’s proposals would increase the cost of food to consumers. Other members include the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the Humane Farming Association, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, the Organic Consumers Association, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Public Citizen and the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment.

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