Media

The Wall Street Journal | USDA Drops Tighter Rules on Meatpackers

OCM Staff

The Wall Street Journal By Jacob Bunge and Heidi Vogt Move is blow to farmers and advocacy groups that have sought checks on meatpackers’ clout in rural America   The U.S. Department of Agriculture has dropped efforts to tighten regulations governing how meat companies deal with the farmers who raise the nation’s poultry and livestock. The move is a blow to farmers and advocacy groups that for years have sought checks on meatpackers’ clout in rural America, where nearly one million producers raise animals for the U.S. meat Read More …

OCM Appalled by GIPSA Rule Withdrawal, Calls for Executive Order

OCM Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2017 OCM Appalled by GIPSA Rule Withdrawal, Calls for Executive Order Lincoln, NE – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) announced it will withdraw the Farmer Fair Practices Interim Final Rule, Scope of Sections 202(a) and (b) of Packers and Stockyards Act, and take no further action on the proposed rule, Unfair Practices and Undue Preferences in Violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act. Thus Read More …

OCM Urges USDA to Finalize GIPSA Farmer Fair Practices Rule

OCM Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 16, 2017 OCM Urges USDA to Finalize GIPSA Farmer Fair Practices Rule Long-awaited marketplace safeguard would restore rights of U.S. farmers and ranchers Lincoln, NE – On Thursday, a long-awaited rule is set to go into effect that would restore the rights of farmers and ranchers who are harmed by a meat packing or processing company’s anti-competitive and unfair practices. Known as the GIPSA rule or the Farmer Fair Practices rule, it would clarify Read More …

Are these signatures sufficient to double the Oklahoma beef checkoff?

OCM Staff

In order to bring the Oklahoma beef checkoff tax increase to a statewide referendum, the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) launched a petition drive in 2015. It took OCA nearly two years to collect their stated requirement of 5,100 signatures to bring the issue to a statewide vote this Fall. OCA cleared their stated signature requirement by only 77 signatures. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry verified all the submitted petition signatures without throwing a single one Read More …

OCM Thanks USDA for Releasing Missing Dairy Checkoff Reports

OCM Staff

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has compiled and submitted to Congress dairy checkoff reports that had been missing since 2012. The federally mandated annual reports are required to account for dairy checkoff program activities, spending, and effectiveness. In September, the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) called on USDA to hold itself accountable for dairy farmers’ checkoff tax dollars. OCM offered the following statement regarding the submission of the reports: “The Organization for Competitive Markets thanks the U.S. Department Read More …

Meatingplace | Complaint alleges misuse of Oklahoma beef funds

OCM Staff

Meatingplace By Lisa M. Keefe A group representing family farmers and ranchers filed a complaint with USDA’s Office of Inspector General alleging the Oklahoma Beef Council illegally joined the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association in campaigning for a state referendum that would require payment of a state fee of $1 for every head of cattle sold. This would be in violation of federal restrictions on use of Beef Council funds to promote or influence government or policy, according to a Read More …

Drovers | State Beef Checkoff Vote Starts in Oklahoma, Complaint Filed to Stop It

OCM Staff

Drovers By Wyatt Bechtel Early voting for a secondary beef checkoff in Oklahoma started on Oct. 2, but the Organization for Competitive Markets wants the vote to be halted. The official vote for proposed state beef checkoff is slated for Nov. 1, but Oklahoma cattle producers can vote with mail-in ballots from Oct. 2 to Oct. 20. Ballots can be requested from the Oklahoma Beef Checkoff Ballot Committee by calling 405-235-4391 or emailing okbeefcheckoff@gmail.com. Mail-in ballots must be post marked Read More …