Tag: COOL

COOL – The right to label

Richard Oswald

Looking back over 100+ years of family farm history, attitude, sympathetic lenders, luck, and most of all family relationships are what average farmers rely on for their survival. Corporate partnerships don’t have much to offer us. In governments eyes, bigger has always been better–even when bigger meant corporate control, more pollution, less competition, and higher costs. Realistically, even though US agriculture seems a national icon, corporations, some native to foreign countries, are replacing people like me. They couldn’t Read More …

NFU Pleased with Initial Read of Farm Bill Conference Report

Mike Callicrate

For Immediate Release Jan. 27, 2014 Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191, maugusto@nfudc.org NFU Pleased with Initial Read of Farm Bill Conference Report WASHINGTON (Jan. 27, 2014) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement following the 2014 Farm Bill Conference Committee’s release of its report on The Agricultural Act of 2014: “Upon initial review of the language released by the committee, NFU is pleased with the final bill. I know that the farm bill is Read More …

UN-COOL

Richard Oswald

By Richard Oswald Not too long ago, the worlds pharmaceutical companies lobbied Congress to drop strict safety guidelines saying those placed an undue burden on America. It was unconstitutional they said, by driving up the cost of medicine. US consumers shouldn’t care where medicine came from. It was none of their business actually, so long as they received adequate assurances of safety and effectiveness. It was the most efficient way, they said, to keep prices low. Pill imports Read More …

Our Way or the Highway

Richard Oswald

No one knows why James Hunter left his family for a two year gold prospecting tour in them thar hills. All we really know is a remote branch of the family tree once broke loose from his Missouri roots for the California Gold Rush. Maybe James wanted respite from routine … or plain old adventure. Or maybe he had gold fever. He found gold, probably not the bonanza he wanted, but when James returned there was just enough Read More …

It is important that companies like Tyson Foods know that we are watching them

Mike Callicrate

“Mike (Callicrate) … again we are stronger when we are together taking these issues on … we don’t fear any of these groups, we will fight for these values and that is why we will stand up very proudly with you all you guys” – Wayne Pacelle, President and Chief Executive Officer of The HSUS speaking in reference to “Zilmax is particularly offensive in a lot of ways to eaters and producers” – Mike Callicrate, President of the Read More …

NCBA Files Suit to Abolish COOL

Mike Callicrate

PRESS RELEASE Organization for Competitive Markets P.O. Box 6486 Lincoln, NE 68506 www.competitivemarkets.com Contact: Mike Callicrate, OCM President 785-332-8128 callicrate@competitivemarkets.com August 5, 2013 Beef Checkoff dollars undermining producer interests! The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) today called for the immediate dismissal of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) as a contractor for the Beef Checkoff Program. On July 8th, NCBA and seven other plaintiffs, including the American Meat Institute, American Association of Meat Processors, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canadian Read More …

OCM to plot long overdue market revival at convention

Mike Callicrate

PRESS RELEASE Organization for Competitive Markets P.O. Box 6486 Lincoln, NE 68506 www.competitivemarkets.com Contact: Mike Callicrate, OCM President 785-332-8128 callicrate@competitivemarkets.com July 18, 2013 Expect a somber tribute to lost markets, followed by invigorating plans for a rebirth, at the Organization for Competitive Markets’ annual convention coming up August 9th and 10th in Kansas City. “The free market we all like to talk about is a mirage. We pretend it’s there, but in reality our competitive markets have been Read More …

Defend COOL from Sen. Johanns

Mike Callicrate

May 13, 2013 Action Alert from Nebraska Farmers Union! Many of you have at one time or another supported our efforts to get and keep clear and effective Country of Origin Labeling for U.S. food products.  Thanks to all our efforts, COOL is now the law.  That law was challenged by lawsuits from Mexico and Canada in the WTO.  USDA has responded in a fashion that we support that makes more consistent and clear where the product was Read More …