Media

OCM Support for Petition for Rulemaking on Definitions of “Beef” and “Meat”

OCM Staff

The Organization for Competitive Markets submitted the following comments in support of Petition 18-01 filed by United States Cattlemen’s Association to exclude products not derived directly from animals raised and slaughtered from the definition of “beef” and “meat.” OCM recognizes the value U.S. consumers place on accurate, transparent labeling in making their food choices. Many of America’s family farmers and ranchers have been able to sustain the profitability of their independent family farms and ranches by recognizing consumer Read More …

Reuters | Brazil’s Marfrig to buy control of U.S.-based National Beef

OCM Staff

Reuters By Ana Mano SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazil’s Marfrig Global Foods SA (MRFG3.SA) said on Monday it would buy control of U.S.-based National Beef Packing Co for $969 million, in a deal that would make it the world’s No. 2 beef processor. Martin Secco Arias, Chief Executive Officer of Marfrig Global Foods SA, poses for a photograph after attending a news conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil April 9, 2018. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker Marfrig also said it was seeking Read More …

On RV Tour Sec. Perdue Says America’s Farmers Don’t Need Protection From Abusive Multinational Big Ag, Says It’s the Way of “American Capitalistic Society”

OCM Staff

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 …

107 Farm Groups Urge Congress to Reject H.R. 4879/3599 in the 2018 Farm Bill

OCM Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 5, 2018  107 Farm Groups Urge Congress to Reject H.R. 4879/3599 in the 2018 Farm Bill Washington, D.C. – Today, a coalition including Family Farm Action, Organization for Competitive Markets, National Dairy Producers Organization and Farm Aid submitted a letter to members of the Senate Agriculture Committee urging them to reject Rep. Steve King’s effort to include his radical legislation in the 2018 Farm Bill. King’s legislation would wipe out most state and local Read More …

Politico | Livestock Farmers Describe Harm in Pulling GIPSA Rules

OCM Staff

Politico’s Morning Agriculture By Sabrina Rodriguez Livestock farmers from Alabama, Nebraska and Kansas outlined in a court brieflast week why they support an ongoing lawsuit against Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue that seeks a judicial review of the withdrawal of two rules aimed at balancing the power between meatpacking companies and contract growers — better know as the GIPSA rules. Alabama poultry farmers Jonathan and Connie Buttram are both plaintiffs in the case that was brought by Democracy Forward, a nonprofit legal group, on Read More …

Family Farmers File Brief Against Department of Agriculture for Unlawful Withdrawal of Farmer Fair Practices Rules

OCM Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 30, 2018 Family Farmers File Brief Against Department of Agriculture for Unlawful Withdrawal of Farmer Fair Practices Rules  Administration Unlawfully Withdrew Rules that Would Have Helped Level the Playing Field Between Farmers and Agribusiness  New Brief is Latest Development in Suit Against the Trump Administration for Siding with Big Ag over Small Farmers Washington, D.C. — On behalf of the Organization for Competitive Markets and individual farmers, Democracy Forward filed a new brief in Read More …

Farmers Detail Harm Suffered at Hands of Big Ag Corporations in Our New Filing Against USDA

OCM Staff

[bctt tweet=”.@RealDonaldTrump and @SecretarySonny, America’s farmers deserve protection from corporate abuse. Reverse your decision to end the Farmer Fair Practices Rules. #implementGIPSAnow” via=”no”] In December 2017, we sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for illegally withdrawing critical protections intended to shield family farmers and ranchers from predatory and retaliatory practices by big agribusiness corporations. These protections were known as the Farmer Fair Practices, or GIPSA Rules. Today, with legal representation by Democracy Forward, we filed a new Read More …

OCM Opposes California Legislative Attempt to Increase Beef Checkoff

OCM Staff

The California Legislature is at it again. They’re attempting to tax cattle producers $1 per head of cattle sold, without providing the basic taxpayer safeguards of a state audit, appropriations, or open and transparent records. This newly proposed legislation, SB-965, also fails to prevent the taxpayer funds from being used for lobbying. SB-965 would leave the program open to abuse and scandal, no different than we’ve already seen in states like Oklahoma and Ohio. Today, we wrote to the Read More …