Fifteen years ago, in responding to the question of why producers were receiving so little for their livestock, Dr. John Helmuth (economist, meat industry expert, and longtime critic of meat industry consolidation) said, “There is an economic term to describe this phenomenon: It is called stealing.” Compared to a competitive time in the industry in the 1970’s, the monopoly power of the big retailers and meat packers has left today’s cattle producers nearly $600 per head short of Read More …
“We are in for a series of years with very low prices with very strenuous circumstances” – Daryll E. Ray, Professor of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Director of the Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (APAC) at the University of Tennessee Daryll E Ray received the 2013 Organization for Competitive Markets John Helmuth Award. “I knew John Helmuth for many years as tried to address excessive meatpacker market power,” said Mike Callicrate, OCM President. “Helmuth was one of the Read More …
In my experience in talking with students and groups of people outside the university is it that they are very eager to have meaningful give and take discussions on alternative food systems … that discussion rarely occurs in a Land Grant University setting. The Land Grant system was created 151 years ago intended for teaching, research and outreach and service for the middle class, for common people for working class … it had public interest orientation and was Read More …
“There is nothing I care about more than farmers” – Dave Murphy, Food Democracy Now Murphy worked for President Obama during this first term and at that time was a supporter of Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack.
“Mike (Callicrate) … again we are stronger when we are together taking these issues on … we don’t fear any of these groups, we will fight for these values and that is why we will stand up very proudly with you all you guys” – Wayne Pacelle, President and Chief Executive Officer of The HSUS speaking in reference to “Zilmax is particularly offensive in a lot of ways to eaters and producers” – Mike Callicrate, President of the Read More …
“Antitrust is really simple, it’s very narrow, it focuses on a simple set of metrics but it largely ignores unique features of agricultural markets like food safety and reliability. If we get these big conglomerates in our food supply chain – are we going to have quality, are we going to have reliability, are we going to preserve safety? Whenever you have a small number of producers your supply chain becomes very fragile, bottle-necked in parts and that Read More …
The independence of cattle farmers and ranchers is on life support. Once it is gone, we become serfs. The old plantation system is being reborn right before our eyes. We will be sharecroppers like in the days of old. We must then learn to kowtow. So you better start practicing your “yes sir boss” unless we muster up the courage and join forces to defeat “the man”. We must organize and generate power. We must be innovative. We Read More …
“There’s nobody that works harder than Fred”, Mike Callicrate “We are getting closer to the cliff all the time and that seems to be a continuous process – that bothers me. I almost feel guilty because I feel that I lived in America’s heyday. I hate to say that. I wish I could stand here with a straight face and tell you that I believe America’s best days are ahead but I am fearful … a big part Read More …