POLITICO By Christine Haughney The days leading up to Thanksgiving would seem like an especially busy time to ask turkey farmers to embark on major construction projects on their farms. But a regulatory decision made by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue last month opened the door for turkey farmers and other contract growers to be hit with new, burdensome and costly demands from the corporate interests for which they produce livestock. In the case of one group of turkey Read More …
Meatingplace By Rita Jane Gabbett Less than a month after USDA said it was postponing controversial organizational shifts for its Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) and its Codex food safety office, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has moved ahead on both. GIPSA In a memo to stakeholders dated Nov. 14, Perdue outlined realignment of a number of USDA offices, including eliminated GIPSA as a standalone agency. Instead, USDA will establish within the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) a deputy administrator for Read More …
Following on the heels of his withdrawal of the Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) Farmer Fair Practices Rules, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has now announced the elimination of GIPSA as a standalone agency. In a memo released on November 14, 2017, Perdue stated, “The Packers and Stockyards Program formerly part of GIPSA and the Warehouse Act functions formerly part of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will be transferred to [Agricultural Marketing Service] and included in Read More …
DTN The Progressive Farmer By Chris Clayton OMAHA (DTN) — Critics of agricultural consolidation joined forces Tuesday in Washington to release reports calling on the Department of Justice to reject the merger between Bayer AG and Monsanto Co. Gathering at the National Press Club to air their grievances against the $63.5 billion merger were the Organization of Competitive Markets, the National Family Farm Coalition, the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, Consumer Federation of America, Friends of the Earth, the Read More …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 14, 2017 Expert contacts: Tiffany Finck-Haynes, Friends of the Earth, (202) 222-0715, tfinckhaynes@foe.org Bill Bullard, R-CALF-USA, (406) 670-8157 billbullard@r-calfusa.com Communications contacts: Patrick Davis, Friends of the Earth, (202) 222-0744, pdavis@foe.org Angela Huffman, (614) 390-7552, ahuffman@competitivemarkets.com Paul Towers, (916) 216-1082, ptowers@panna.org 1 Million+ Consumers Call on DOJ to Block Bayer-Monsanto Merger New reports reveal devastating impacts on consumers and farmers Washington, D.C. – Over 1 million petition signatures were delivered today by farming, consumer and Read More …
The Fence Post The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry announced the $1 refundable Oklahoma Beef Checkoff referendum failed with 2,506 no votes and 1,998 yes votes. The proposed checkoff would have required that $1 be taken from cattle owners every time they sold cattle. The funds would remain in state to be administered by the Oklahoma Beef Council, which is made up of members appointed by: American Farmers and Ranchers, Oklahoma Dairy Producers Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Read More …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2017 Media Contacts: Bill Bullard, 406-252-2516, billbullard@r-calfusa.com Angela Huffman, 614-390-7552, ahuffman@competitivemarkets.com OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Today Oklahoma farmers and ranchers won a great victory against the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) and their corporate out of state interests. In an announcement today, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry (DAFF) announced in a vote of 1998 to 2506 the Oklahoma Beef Checkoff Referendum had been defeated. The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and R-CALF USA Read More …
