Media

OCM Calls for Breakup of Big Four Meatpackers

OCM Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 30, 2020 Media Contact: Ben Gotschall bgotschall@competitivemarkets.com 402-540-1342   OCM Calls for Breakup of Big Four Meatpackers Weak Links in Food Supply Chain Must Be Removed LINCOLN, NE: Today, Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is calling for the breakup of the “Big Four” meatpacking companies: Cargill, JBS, National Beef, and Tyson.  Together, these four companies control over 85% of the United States beef supply.  Recent packing plant closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have Read More …

9 Actions We Can Take Now to Strengthen Our Agriculture and Food System

OCM Staff

The Covid-19 Pandemic has had many effects on the economy of the United States, and particularly hard-hit has been the agriculture and food sector.  Not since the Depression have we seen such a disparity between retail and farmgate prices, empty grocery shelves while people clamor for food, and farmers going out of business. Like something straight out of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, farmers are euthanizing livestock, dumping milk, and allowing produce to rot in the fields, Read More …

30% of Nothing is Still Nothing

OCM Staff

Currently there is a movement in the cattle industry calling for a mandatory beef cattle cash market volume of 30%. Corbitt Wall is touting it as the biggest thing to hit the cattle industry since Y-Tex eartags, while patting himself on the back like he just invented a new card game. Meanwhile, NCBA has been spending our checkoff dollars developing an online cookbook.  Beef producers need Market Reform, not Martha Stewart. Perhaps NCBA could spend less of its Read More …

Corrupt billionaire brothers’ meat plants are riddled with coronavirus

OCM Staff

by Isabel Vincent Source: The New York Post The world’s largest meat-processing giant was forced to shut down some of its US plants as more than 100 of its workers tested positive for COVID-19 last week, but the pandemic may be the least of its problems. The Brazilian billionaire brothers — one of whom owned a Manhattan penthouse — controlling the massive meat producer JBS, which slaughters 13 million animals a day and has revenues of $50 billion Read More …

USDA to Initiate Rulemaking on “Product of U.S.A.” Meat Labels in Response to OCM and AGA Petition

OCM Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responded to a petition filed by the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and American Grassfed Association (AGA) regarding truth in labeling of imported meat. The OCM and AGA petition, filed in June 2018, called for FSIS to ensure only domestic meat products can be labeled “Product of U.S.A.” The current policy allows imported meat to bear the “Product of U.S.A.” label if Read More …

WNAX | OCM Wants Regulators To Disallow DFA Acquisition Of Majority Of Dean Foods

OCM Staff

Dean Foods officials have announced that Dairy Farmers of America is the winning bidder to acquire 44 of their fluid and frozen facilities for $433 million. Organization For Competitive Markets Director of Policy and Research Ben Gotschall says that’s a huge concentration concern and that that deal still must be approved before it goes through. He says it’s important to note that the U.S. Justice Department is investigating any possible anti-trust concerns with this acquisition. Gotschall says antitrust Read More …

WNAX | Organization For Competitive Markets Is Monitoring Sale Of Dean Foods Assets

OCM Staff

The Organization For Competitive Markets is monitoring the bidding process for the acquisition of Dean Foods assets following the company’s decision to file for bankruptcy. Earlier Dean had received an offer from Dairy Farmers of America to purchase some of their assets however they have now withdrawn that offer. That move allows for a competitive bidding process. OCM Policy and Research Director Ben Gotschall says that competitive bidding is what’s needed to address concentration concerns. He says OCM Read More …

OCM Comments on Packers and Stockyards Fair Competition Rule

OCM Staff

Today, the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) submitted public comments on a rule that the Secretary of Agriculture would use to determine whether or not a corporate practice would hinder fair competition in agriculture and livestock markets. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposed rule regarding enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) seeks to clarify how the PSA is interpreted and enforced. OCM disagrees with the proposed rule’s inadequate criteria, and Read More …