Phony Farm Loss Scare

Back on December 6 1999 VP Al Gore garnered great media coverage for claims that “new figures confirm what communities across America already know that too much of our precious open space is being gobbled up by sprawl.” Gore got a scoop of a day on USDA data, which transp consultant Wendell Cox and Heritage researcher Ron Utt immediately pointed out was totally inconsistent with census data. They asked USDA to explain the inconsistency.

For months there was silence at USDA, while the Gorists spread their misinformation. In April, after four months. USDA finally admitted the data was in error, and removed it from its website.

It now promises a revision.