Media

Federal Legislation Would End USDA’s Bailout Payments to Brazil’s JBS

OCM Staff

On Tuesday, May 14, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) filed the Buy American Agriculture Act (H.R. 2712) to stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from lining the pockets of global corporations at the expense of U.S. taxpayers and family farmers. The legislation was filed as the result of USDA’s announcement that it continues to provide millions of dollars in financial assistance to a Brazilian transnational corporation, JBS, through the bailout program established to assist America’s family farmers devastated Read More …

President Trump Should Say No to Brazil’s Beef Import Deal

OCM Staff

“With this acquisition, we become the largest beef company in the world.” With these words, JBS President Joesley Batista set in motion what today has become an invasion of the U.S. beef market by Brazilian corporations. Batista uttered these words in 2007 during JBS S.A.’s announcement that it had just purchased the U.S.’s third largest beef processor, Swift Food Company. A year later, JBS seized on the opportunity to expand its U.S. acquisitions and purchased Smithfield Beef Group, Read More …

DTN Progressive Farmer | Groups Rally for Farmer Bill of Rights Before Rural Forum

OCM Staff

DTN Progressive Farmer By Chris Clayton STORM LAKE, Iowa, (DTN) — Several farm groups focusing on issues related to small family farms in crisis held a rally here Saturday leading up to a rural issues forum later in the afternoon with a handful of Democratic presidential candidates. NOTE: I plan to update this blog with comments from the forum later in the day as well as post tweets at @ChrisClaytonDTN Family Farm Action spearheaded the forum, along with Read More …

Drovers | Checkoff Reform Legislation Reintroduced by Presidential Candidates

OCM Staff

Drovers Wyatt Bechtel A bill seeking to limit the use of agricultural checkoff funds has been reintroduced in the Senate and it has the backing of several current or former presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle. The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act of 2019 was reintroduced on March 28, by U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) after the same legislation failed to make its way in to the farm bill during the 2018 mark up. Read More …

Washington Monthly | Meet the New Trustbusters

OCM Staff

Washington Monthly By Eric Cortellessa This much can be said for Democrats heading into 2020: if their candidate manages to defeat Donald Trump, the new president will enter the White House having promised the boldest domestic policy agenda in more than a generation. At least six presidential hopefuls are all in on single-payer; an overlapping set of six cosponsored the Green New Deal legislation; and three have even said they support reparations for slavery. But while these proposals may help curry favor with the Read More …

Bipartisan Demand for Checkoff Reform Renewed with Filing of U.S. Senate Legislation

OCM Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Common ground was found among unlikely allies again as the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act, S. 935, was reintroduced by U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Elizabeth Warren, (D-MA). The Off Act would put an end to the most egregious abuses committed by the boards and contractors of the federally mandated commodity checkoff programs. Checkoff programs have been instrumental in the history of agricultural advertising. Famous campaigns, Read More …

Four Questions for Dr. Mary Hendrickson About Fair Farm and Food Markets

OCM Staff

We are starting 2019 with a one-of-a-kind educational opportunity for OCM members. Dr. Mary Hendrickson of the University of Missouri is kicking off our #AgJustice webinar series on February 26th. Dr. Hendrickson will be speaking about her research on developing a framework for evaluating the fairness of agricultural markets and sharing her expertise on resisting consolidation. In anticipation of our webinar, we hosted a Twitterview (Twitter interview) with Dr. Hendrickson. Read on for a few of her thoughts Read More …

February 26, 2019: #AgJustice Webinar with Dr. Mary Hendrickson

OCM Staff

We are starting 2019 with a one-of-a-kind educational opportunity for OCM members. Dr. Mary Hendrickson, University of Missouri, is kicking off our #AgJustice webinar series on February 26th at 11am CDT. Dr. Hendrickson will be speaking about her research on developing a framework for evaluating the fairness of agricultural markets and sharing her expertise on resisting consolidation. How to connect to the webinar An invite was sent by email to OCM members. If you missed it, please contact Read More …