Al Cross on The Rural Blog [1] reports that "Derry Brownfield (above)...who founded a radio network for Midwest agricultural and rural news, is being taken off that and sister networks because he rails against major agribusiness interests, including Monsanto Co...." Brownfield was canned by Clyde Lear, who co-founded the Brownfield Network, , told Cross that the commentator had criticized the Missouri Farm Bureau and that "he's really gotten on a tear about Monsanto."

Lear said he hadn't listed to Brownfield's show and was responding to complaints from his staff, who feared the company might lose advertising from Monsanto. Lear first asked Brownfield to "lay off" Monsanto "or at the very least get someone from Monsanto on the air." Brownfield refused. Lear showed some regret for his action. He told Cross, "As a journalist, there's a part of me that wishes I had gone the other way."

The firing got an immediate reaction from the Organization for Competitive Markets and attorney Michael Stumo. [2] "If true, this is more evidence of Monsanto using tools other than 'market forces' to get its way," Stumo wrote. "Few other than a monopolist could get away with such heavy handed behavior."