Category: Press Releases

Legislation Would Restore Integrity and Transparency to an Out-of-Control Government Program Farm Groups Take on Checkoff-Funded Commodity Trade Associations WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 102 farm and food organizations called on the U.S. Senate to restore accountability and transparency to the commodity checkoff programs by supporting inclusion of the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act, S. 741, in the Senate version of the Farm Bill. The legislation’s sponsors, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), plan to Read More …

Washington, D.C. – Today, the American Grassfed Association (AGA) and the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) filed a petition with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) demanding FSIS policy be changed to ensure only U.S. domestic meat products can be labeled “Product of U.S.A.” The current policy allows foreign meat to be imported into the United States and bear the label “Product of U.S.A.” if it simply passes through a USDA-inspected Read More …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2018 Media Contact: Angela Huffman, 614-390-7552 ahuffman@competitivemarkets.com Farm Groups Call for Disqualification of Ohio Beef Council from Checkoff Program Columbus, Ohio – A federally-recognized state agency has been utilizing farmers’ tax dollars to influence policy and elections, in violation of both state and federal law. Today, farm groups joined together to call for the disqualification of that agency, the Ohio Beef Council, from collecting and spending the federally-mandated tax assessments. The assessments, paid Read More …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2018 Checkoff Reform Amendment Withdrawn Amidst Failing House Farm Bill Today, U.S. Representatives Brat (R-VA) and Blumenauer (D-OR) withdrew from debate their checkoff reform amendment on the House floor, avoiding it getting tangled up in the broader political battle which led to the defeat of the 2018 House Farm Bill. Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and other advocates for checkoff program reform will now take the issue to the Senate as it begins Read More …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2018 OCM Applauds Brat-Blumenauer Checkoff Reform Amendment to Farm Bill Today, U.S. Representatives Brat (R-VA) and Blumenauer (D-OR) filed an amendment to the Farm Bill that would provide much-needed government accountability and transparency for the Commodity Research and Promotion Programs (checkoffs). The bipartisan amendment would ensure the authorizing checkoff laws prevent conflicts of interest, anticompetitive activities that harm other commodities, and governing boards of the checkoff programs from contracting with organizations that engage Read More …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2018 Media Contact: Angela Huffman, 614-390-7552 ahuffman@competitivemarkets.com Farm Tax Dollars Used Illegally to Influence Ohio’s Governor Race Farm Groups Call on Governor Kasich to Stop the Illicit Expenditure of Farmers’ Tax Dollars on Lobbying and Electioneering Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Beef Council, a state agency of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, illegally used government property to promote a fundraiser for the Mike DeWine gubernatorial campaign. On April 6, 2018, the Ohio Beef Read More …

On RV Tour Sec. Perdue Says America’s Family Farmers Don’t Need Protection From Abusive Multinational Big Ag, Says It’s the Way of “American Capitalistic Society” Farmers Group Responds to Perdue Siding with Multinational Agribusiness Corporations over America’s Farmers Perdue’s Out-of-Touch Remarks Come During His “RV Tour” While touring Ohio during his “Back to Our Roots” RV tour, USDA Secretary Perdue doubled down on the Trump Administration’s decision to turn its back on family farmers and side with multinational Read More …