Category: Checkoff Program Reform

Terminate NCBA as Checkoff Contractor

Mike Callicrate

Mr. Weldon Wynn, Chairman Cattlemen’s Beef Board 9000 E. Nichols Ave., Suite 215 Centennial, CO 80112 Dear Mr. Wynn, The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) calls for the termination of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) as a contractor for the Beef Checkoff Program. The organization’s latest move demonstrates once again that it cannot be trusted with producer funds. NCBA is now a plaintiff in a lawsuit to block the implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling that Read More …

NCBA Files Suit to Abolish COOL

Mike Callicrate

PRESS RELEASE Organization for Competitive Markets P.O. Box 6486 Lincoln, NE 68506 www.competitivemarkets.com Contact: Mike Callicrate, OCM President 785-332-8128 callicrate@competitivemarkets.com August 5, 2013 Beef Checkoff dollars undermining producer interests! The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) today called for the immediate dismissal of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) as a contractor for the Beef Checkoff Program. On July 8th, NCBA and seven other plaintiffs, including the American Meat Institute, American Association of Meat Processors, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canadian Read More …

Striking Out the Beef Checkoff

Mike Callicrate

By Vaughn Meyer of Reva, SD As an appointee to the 106 member Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) I often wonder if I/we are spending your beef checkoff dollars in the best interest of beef promotion. To begin this examination of our commitment to our fellow producers of investing your money wisely (all $40 million), let us review the Beef Board mission statement, “The Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board is dedicated to improving producer profitability’ expanding consumer demand Read More …

OCM to plot long overdue market revival at convention

Mike Callicrate

PRESS RELEASE Organization for Competitive Markets P.O. Box 6486 Lincoln, NE 68506 www.competitivemarkets.com Contact: Mike Callicrate, OCM President 785-332-8128 callicrate@competitivemarkets.com July 18, 2013 Expect a somber tribute to lost markets, followed by invigorating plans for a rebirth, at the Organization for Competitive Markets’ annual convention coming up August 9th and 10th in Kansas City. “The free market we all like to talk about is a mirage. We pretend it’s there, but in reality our competitive markets have been Read More …

OCM Challenges Inspector General Refusal to Release Records

Mike Callicrate

PRESS RELEASE Organization for Competitive Markets P.O. Box 6486 Lincoln, NE 68506 www.competitivemarkets.com Contact: Mike Callicrate, OCM President 785-332-8128 callicrate@competitivemarkets.com July 2, 2013 Group Appeals OIG’s Decision to Withhold Records Relating to Questionable Checkoff Audit Report The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) filed an administrative appeal today challenging the USDA Inspector General’s (OIG) refusal to release more than 3,000 pages of information relating to a questionable audit report. Despite an independent audit that discovered substantial violations of the Read More …

It’s Still Called Stealing

Mike Callicrate

Grade and yield buying used to be called “Grade and Steal” by most cattlemen. Today, it’s called Value-Based Marketing by the big packers and their cheerleaders, like Certified Angus Beef’s (CAB) Miranda Reiman. In her March 4th article, “Value-based cattle marketing dominates”, Reiman attempts to mentally condition Angus breeders and other cattlemen to accept their fate in Big Food’s supply chain where performance enhancing drugs, added flavorings, Pink Slime, various pre-digestion methods, and meat recalls, do more to Read More …

OCM Files Demand for Inspector General Records

Mike Callicrate

PRESS RELEASE Organization for Competitive Markets P.O. Box 6486 Lincoln, NE 68506 www.competitivemarkets.com Contact: Mike Callicrate, OCM President 785-332-8128 callicrate@competitivemarkets.com April 11, 2013 Group Wants Answers to Questionable Audit Report The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) announced today a series of actions in furtherance of its efforts to bring transparency and integrity to the beef checkoff program. OCM has submitted a Freedom of Information Act demand for records relating to a questionable report released last week. In 2010, Read More …

From Berkeley to Boston: Coming Together Around Freedom, Fairness and Food

Mike Callicrate

By Mike Callicrate & Fred Stokes Eating is one thing we all have in common. And, to millions of us, what we eat, how it’s produced, and where it comes from is important. OCM has worked for the last fourteen years to restore competition in the agricultural marketplace. We believe family farmers and ranchers make the best stewards of our land and livestock, and are the most reliable and trustworthy sources of high quality, healthy and safe food. Read More …