Media

Marty Irby – Named one of The Hill’s Top Lobbyists for 2021 “I’m deeply honored to have been named as one of the top lobbyists in the nation for the third year in a row and am truly grateful for the tireless work that our supporters and my colleagues have dedicated to achieve tangible progress for animals,” said Marty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness Action. “While 2021 has been a very challenging, proximity to Capitol Hill and Read More …

The big deal is to investigate the various livestock checkoff programs. This is needed at this time because the referendum promised when the checkoff began never happened. Why has the OFF Act has caused consternation for some so-called cattle trade associations? It should be clear that a “cattle” trade association that disagrees with the OFF Act does NOT represent cattle producers! The beef checkoff is a one dollar per head sold assessment paid by those selling cattle. Note, Read More …

Greetings fellow Producers and Consumers, As I begin to write this report, I must reflect on what a year of change for both OCM and our nation! Nationally with the change of administration we have witnessed new and renewed initiatives to uphold and strengthen independent production agriculture and consumer food security. Also, we are thankful to our Congressional constituents for their growing awareness and actions regarding the plight of family agriculture and its devastating effects to rural communities. Read More …

October 26, 2021 First let me thank you for inviting us to plead our case at your convention. I want to especially thank Doctor James Dillon. I’m not sure whether I should refer to him as Doctor Dillon or Colonel Dillon, but we especially appreciate his tolerance and help for our cause over the last couple of years. For twenty-two years now, OCM has been about advocating for open, transparent, competitive, and fair agricultural markets; for both the Read More …

Media Contact: Mike Eby meby@competitivemarkets.com 717-799-0057 LINCOLN, NE: Organization for Competitive Markets, OCM very much supports the legislative efforts of Senator Rounds, Tester, and Grassley’s Senate Bill (S.2036) to amend the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921.  This Act also cited as the ‘‘Meat Packing Special Investigator Act’ will establish an office of a special investigator to investigate and prosecute violations of transparent competition within the livestock industry.  OCM applauds this long-overdue legislation to establish an “Office of Read More …

By Deena Shanker, Bloomberg/Newsroom <dshanker@bloomberg.net> Currently, if a farmer wants to sue a company for anti-competitive behavior under the act, the farmer would need to show the company’s actions hurt not only him, but the entire industry. That creates a very high bar that the Obama rules would have lowered. But the Trump administration withdrew the rules, leaving groups like the Organization for Competitive Markets disappointed. Fred Stokes, the founder of OCM, and a cattle rancher in Porterville, Read More …