There is a strong misconception among policymakers that checkoffs are producer dollars and that the producers should decide how those funds should be spent. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has made clear that checkoff activities and speech are those of the federal government.
At the Organization for Competitive Markets annual conference in 2004, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was dubbed USDA, Inc. because of the revolving door between the meat industry and USDA. In the research that was released at the conference, Phillip Matara outlined the problems created when meat industry leaders are leading the very agency that is supposed to be safeguarding farmers and consumers from the meat industry’s abusive practices. 15 years later the door is still revolving. Read More …
The revolving door that allows the deck to be stacked against family farm agriculture at every step of the game continues. JBS announced they have hired former U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, Alfred Almanza, as their new Global Head of Food Safety and Quality Assurance. Almanza brings 40 years’ knowledge of privileged government information to JBS, giving them a huge competitive advantage to allow them to further consolidate the global industry. According to JBS, “Prior to joining Read More …
Following is OCM’s policy position on restoring the Packers and Stockyards Act to its original intent. 1. Implement federal legislation that amends Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921(P&S Act) to provide that the use of a ranking system for ranking poultry growers for settlement purposes is unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive and a strict violation of section 202(a) of the P&S Act regardless of whether it harms or is likely to harm competition. 2. Implement federal legislation that is Read More …
On July 21, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led 17 senators in urging the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division to conduct a thorough and impartial analysis of Bayer AG’s proposed $66 billion acquisition of Monsanto Company. The Antitrust Division must remain independent of political influence and carefully consider the impact this merger will have on agricultural businesses, farmers, and consumers. The senators warn that even the appearance that the President is open to involving Read More …
By Vaughn Meyer, OCM Director In 2015, U.S. cattlemen were victim to the $20 billion dollar identity theft initiated in large part by that so-called superficial producer/devious packer organization known as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Many ranchers were just beginning to recover from the game rule changes which eliminated $400 plus cow/calf profits and created whopping $200 per carcass packer margins in less than six months after the death of U.S. County of Origin Labeling (COOL). Read More …
Brownfield Ag News By Meghan Grebner 7/14/17 The Organization for Competitive Markets wants the Trump Administration to renegotiate the trade deal that resumes US beef exports to China. Executive director Joe Maxwell says the current deal puts US farmers and ranchers at a disadvantage. “Currently it is clear from our side of the deal we’re going to allow Mexico and Canada to bring beef into the United States to be further processed and then shipped under our label,” Read More …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2017 Media Contact: Angela Huffman, 614-390-7552 ahuffman@competitivemarkets.com OCM Calls on President Trump to Renegotiate Beef Trade Deal with China Deal puts U.S. farmers and ranchers at a disadvantage to foreign imported beef LINCOLN, NE – Pointing to the provisions of the trade deal that will allow U.S. beef exports to China, the Organization for Competitive Markets today called on the Trump Administration to renegotiate the deal to ensure it does not put U.S. Read More …