machinery JA also sells foodstuffs directly to farmers. Operation of grain elevators, rice processing centers, etcetera. Secondary businesses JA operates a chain of gas stations (JA-SS, Hokuren SS) and propane gas suppliers (Kumiai Propane). Supermarket (A Corp) chain Direct to home medicine sales (Kumiai home medicine) Credit business (JA Bank) Insurance Business (JA Mutual Aid) Comprehensive life insurance (medical insurance, term life insurance, children's insurance, pension insurance, long-term care insurance, etc.), building rehabilitation insurance, fire insurance, automobile insurance, compulsory automobile liability insurance, etcetera. Welfare business JA Group directly operates hospitals, clinics, health facilities, etcetera. Elder care business Other business JA Group also includes ceremonial businesses such as funerals (JA funerals) tourism and travel business real estate brokerage business newspaper (Nihon Agricultural Newspaper) and publishing business post office services sales and maintenance of agricultural machinery automobile dealers and driving schools architectural design cable broadcasting power generation Change into a powerful farm lobby Although JA was founded by the government, it soon proved difficult to control as the entity grew into a powerful farm lobby. Before 1995, the price of rice was determined by the government under the staple food control system. Demand for staple foods like rice is inelastic, which means that, at least in the short term, higher prices translate into increased net sales and thus higher commissions for JA as the sole wholesaler of agricultural products. Rice prices were set on the basis of production costs incurred by farmers, so as the sole wholesaler of input supplies like fertilizer, pesticides, and machinery, JA inflated the prices of these supplies, the margin of which would eventually reflect in higher rice retail prices. JA's business model was hinged upon its monopoly or quasi-monopoly in both ends of the supply chain (agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides, machinery, and end-products such as rice, wheat, and barley) and its political clout over Japan's Diet members to influence the set food prices. Vulnerabilities and countermeasures There are several vulnerabilities to JA's business model. First, the very existence of the agricultural cooperative is based on a law called the Agricultural Cooperative Association Law, which can be rewritten or repealed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). While this law justifies various privileges that JA enjoys including exemption from Japan's antitrust law, it does remain outside of JA's direct control. Secondly, highly priced rice produced by Japanese farmers will easily lose market share should