While all our eyes are on a trade war with China, Brazilian behemoth meatpacker JBS is positioned to swoop in and take over U.S. markets with our own bailout money. This week, as reported in Meatingplace, JBS officials informed the world that JBS is “at the best moment in its history…to capture market opportunities. Exclusive organic growth is no longer a priority.” JBS will grow by taking over other companies, further strengthening its stranglehold on the market. JBS Read More …
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 …
#FoodAndAg2019 Join us for the only national conference focused on breaking up corporate consolidation and monopoly power in agriculture. Marriott Kansas City Airport 775 Brasilia Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64153 Reserve your room at the OCM conference rate of $102 per night by booking online or calling (816) 464-2200. Rooms are available at the discounted rate until 7/19/19. REGISTER NOW >> This year’s conference is a two-day gathering of experts and advocates from across the United States for a rare opportunity Read More …
Our #AgJustice webinar series continues on August 2nd at 10:00 AM CT with Claire Kelloway from the Open Markets Institute. This is a presentation exclusively for OCM members that you won’t want to miss. Claire will outline how the courts, lawmakers, and academics have reinterpreted antitrust laws to allow for unfettered mergers and unprecedented concentration across the entire economy, especially in agriculture. From seeds, to processing, to retail, growing consolidation and anti-competitive tactics across the food chain are squeezing Read More …
Feedstuffs By Jacqui Fatka Former contract poultry farmer Craig Watts made headlines when he teamed up with Compassion in World Farming USA to expose issues he faced, from receiving sick chicks to animal welfare conditions to carrying the full financial burden of maintaining and upgrading facilities. In 2016, his contract was terminated by the poultry company he had served long term, and today’s he’s trying to ensure that farmers have government protection against retaliation from companies. “As American farmers, we deserve Read More …
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 …
Family farmers and advocates from the country’s top agricultural states will take to Capitol Hill to expose decades of abuse by the nation’s largest meatpacking companies. At a press conference on Tuesday, the group will launch its Stand With Farm Families campaign, sharing harrowing accounts of predatory contracts, rigged markets and retaliation that many farmers claim have driven them into bankruptcy. The goal of the campaign is to urge the USDA to resurrect and add specific protections to its Read More …
Successful Farming Gil Gullickson “Oh, one more thing,” says Ray Gaesser, as he holds out two fingers pointing to his shiny green 24-row corn planter on a bluebird April day. “Would you believe when I began farming over 50 years ago, I started with a two-row planter? Then I went to four, then 12, and now 24 rows.” The mix of largely family-owned and some national seed companies from which the Corning, Iowa, farmer bought seed from in Read More …