Category: Press Releases

USMCA Misses the Mark for U.S. Farmers and Ranchers

OCM Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Angela Huffman ahuffman@competitivemarkets.com 614-390-7552 Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve the U.S., Mexico, and Canada trade agreement (USMCA). The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) issued the following statement: OCM is gravely disappointed that the economic viability of America’s farmers and ranchers has once again been left out of the trilateral trade agreement. Like its predecessor, NAFTA, USMCA fuels the consolidation and monopolization of food and agriculture, and is harmful Read More …

OCM Staff in Transition

OCM Staff

For the past five years, Joe Maxwell has ably served the Organization for Completive Markets as its executive director. During that time OCM has become a national force in combating corporate threats to transparent, fair, and competitive agricultural and food markets. Having implemented our highly successful five-year strategic plan, Joe is stepping down as OCM executive director to allow OCM to select new leadership to guide us to the next level. He will continue to serve OCM as Read More …

Groups Call out Kansas Livestock Association over Misuse of Funds

OCM Staff

The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) has been collecting and expending $10 million dollars per year in violation of state and federal law, according to the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association (KCA). A briefing paper released by the two groups today outlines how KLA has obtained funding through an improperly close affiliation with the Kansas Beef Council, which is charged with collecting $1 a head from every cattle transaction as part of the federally Read More …

OCM Applauds U.S. Senators for Probe into JBS Transactions

OCM Staff

As reported today in Meatingplace, “U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) sent a letter to Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin requesting that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) formally open a review of the transactions of Brazilian meat-processing conglomerate JBS S.A.” Angela Huffman, Communications and Research Director for the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM), offered the following statement: “The corrupt actions of JBS demonstrate the epitome of unchecked monopoly power. JBS Read More …

Congressional Letter Urges USDA to Prioritize Producers Under Packers and Stockyards Act

OCM Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) praises Senators Tester and Grassley and Congresswoman Kaptur, along with 14 of their colleagues, for sending U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Ibach a letter outlining farmers’ rights that should be addressed when drafting new farmer protection rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 (P&S Act). As a result of a recent OCM lawsuit, USDA released a notice of proposed rulemaking this Spring and it is Read More …

Family Farmers Go to Washington, Cry Foul Over Meat Industry Abuse

OCM Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Media Contact: Adam Hymans, adam@resource-media.org, 215.796.7759 Photos, videos and backgrounders: https://tinyurl.com/standwithfarmfamiliesassets  [WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 16, 2019]  — Family farmers and advocates from the country’s top agricultural states took to Capitol Hill this week to expose what they say has been decades of abuse by the nation’s largest meat companies. At a press conference on Tuesday, the group launched its Stand With Farm Families campaign, sharing harrowing accounts of predatory contracts, rigged markets and retaliation Read More …

Over 200 Farm, Food and Rural Groups Support Agribusiness Merger Moratorium Bills

OCM Staff

Coalition Urges Members of Congress to Cosponsor Vital Legislation Washington, D.C. — Today, a broad-based coalition of 219 farm, food, rural, faith and consumer advocacy organizations delivered a letter to Congress endorsing food and agribusiness merger moratorium bills introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Jon Tester (D-MT) and Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI). The Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act of 2019 would initiate a moratorium on large agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing and grocery retail Read More …

USDA Announces New Packers and Stockyards Act Regulations to be Issued

OCM Staff

Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will invite the public to comment on new proposed revisions to regulations under the Packers & Stockyards Act in compliance with a 2008 congressional mandate by the Bush administration. At issue is whether or not family farmers have a legal leg to stand on when the largest agriculture monopolies bully them in the marketplace using predatory and retaliatory practices to either keep farmers in line or to drive Read More …