By Allen Grunes and Maurice Stucke Farmers in the United States have been battered for years by the rising costs of seeds and chemicals. It looks like things are only going to get worse. There were news reports last week that the U.S. Justice Department has reached an “agreement in principle” to give the green light to Bayer AG’s acquisition of rival Monsanto Co. Bayer is the second largest supplier of pesticides worldwide, and is an important global seed company. Monsanto is Read More …
By Laura Kington As a seasonal farm employee and food system advocate, my post-grad years have consistently revolved around three seasons: planting, harvesting, and conference-ing. The last two years, I’ve worked at a flower farm on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio, the city where I grew up and where I remained after graduating from the Ohio State University’s College of Food and Ag., and the year prior to that I had my first season farming on a mixed Read More …
The Organization for Competitive Markets submitted the following comments in support of Petition 18-01 filed by United States Cattlemen’s Association to exclude products not derived directly from animals raised and slaughtered from the definition of “beef” and “meat.” OCM recognizes the value U.S. consumers place on accurate, transparent labeling in making their food choices. Many of America’s family farmers and ranchers have been able to sustain the profitability of their independent family farms and ranches by recognizing consumer Read More …
[bctt tweet=”.@RealDonaldTrump and @SecretarySonny, America’s farmers deserve protection from corporate abuse. Reverse your decision to end the Farmer Fair Practices Rules. #implementGIPSAnow” via=”no”] In December 2017, we sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for illegally withdrawing critical protections intended to shield family farmers and ranchers from predatory and retaliatory practices by big agribusiness corporations. These protections were known as the Farmer Fair Practices, or GIPSA Rules. Today, with legal representation by Democracy Forward, we filed a new Read More …
The California Legislature is at it again. They’re attempting to tax cattle producers $1 per head of cattle sold, without providing the basic taxpayer safeguards of a state audit, appropriations, or open and transparent records. This newly proposed legislation, SB-965, also fails to prevent the taxpayer funds from being used for lobbying. SB-965 would leave the program open to abuse and scandal, no different than we’ve already seen in states like Oklahoma and Ohio. Today, we wrote to the Read More …
Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is celebrating its 20th birthday this year. Since its inception, OCM’s mission statement has included the following statement, “True competition reduces the need for economic regulation. Our mission, and our duty, is to define and advocate the proper role of government in the agricultural economy as a regulator and enforcer of rules necessary for markets that are fair, honest, accessible and competitive for all citizens.” OCM has always understood that to secure our Read More …
The last year and half has brought many changes to the farming community. One of the biggest has been the wave of mergers sweeping through the major corporations many farmers rely upon for seeds and chemicals. Two major mergers have been completed (Dow & DuPont and Syngenta & ChemChina). One more is still pending: Monsanto & Bayer. The U.S. Department of Justice and many state Attorneys General are reviewing that merger and looking for farmer input. Now is your Read More …
Take Action The Virginia General Assembly is considering legislation which would quadruple the state’s beef checkoff tax on cattle producers and turn over control of those dollars to the trade and lobbying organization, Virginia Cattlemen’s Association. The bill is SB 374 (Senator Chafin-R) and HB 1348 (Delegate Weber-R). Please contact your representatives and urge them to oppose this abusive power grab by big agribusiness interests. Virginia Senate Directory Virginia Delegate Directory Look Up Your Legislator Background SB 374/HB 1348: Cattle Industry Read More …