PRESS RELEASES 1998-2002 1998-2002 / 2003-2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007
December 27, 2002
"OCM Featured on National
Public Radio Regarding Country of Origin
Labeling"
December 20, 2002
"OCM Opposes Wal-Mart Acquisition of Puerto Rico Supermarket Chain"
November 25, 2002
"OCM Says Country of Origin Labeling Benefits Outweigh Cost"
October 30, 2002
OCM Mourns the Loss of Paul Wellstone
August 23, 2002
"OCM Tells Senate Judiciary Committee to Strengthen Antitrust Review"
July 16, 2002
"OCM Tells Senate to Eliminate Captive Supplies"
June 28, 2002
"OCM’s 2002 Food and Agriculture Conference on August 16 in Omaha"
June 27, 2002
"OCM to Co-Sponsor Livestock Price Crisis Meeting in Amarillo, Texas"
June 25, 2002
"OCM to Co-Sponsor Livestock Price Crisis Meeting in Memphis"
May 23, 2002
"Livestock Industry Prepares to Address Top Issues Raised at Omaha Price Crisis Meeting." OCM, R-CALF USA and the Nebraska Cattlemen's Association jointly report on the resolutions approved at the 2002 Livestock Price Crisis meeting in Omaha.
May 1, 2002
"OCM to Co-Sponsor 2002 Livestock Price Crisis Meeting in Omaha." OCM announces that a Livestock Price Crisis Meeting will be held in Omaha on May 11, 2002. Co-sponsors include OCM, R-CALF USA and the Nebraska Cattlemen's Association
April 25, 2002
"OCM Says Farm Bill Without Packer Ban Should Be Rejected." Responding to reports that the final version of the 2002 Farm Bill will not include a provision banning packer ownership of livestock, OCM says that the bill should be rejected.
April 10, 2002
"OCM Praises House Minority Leader's Support of Packer Ownership Amendment and Labeling." OCM hails Representative Richard Gephardt's support of packer ownership and country of origin labeling which was set forth in a Gephardt letter to the farm bill conferees.
April 5, 2002
"OCM Disappointed with Appointment of New USDA-GIPSA Administrator." OCM expressed disappointment on USDA Secretary Veneman's choice of Donna Reifschneider as new head of USDA-GIPSA because she appears unqualified to respond to the challenges facing the agency.
March 18, 2002
"OCM Criticizes New Meat Packer Study," Press Release, March 18, 2002.
OCM criticized a new report released today by Sparks Companies Inc., a major
consultant to the agribusinesses that oppose the packer ownership
prohibition in the farm bill.
March 13, 2002
"OCM Praises Legal and Economic Report Supporting Packer Ownership Bill." OCM praises a report in which four esteemed university professors said that the dominant packers have a strong ability
to manipulate the market, that the packer ownership legislation is a good first step towards addressing that problem, and that the claims of harm by the meat packer lobby are overblown or inaccurate.
March 4, 2002
"OCM Joined by 167 Organizations in Favor of Packer Ownership Prohibition." OCM releases a letter signed by 167 organizations across the country in favor of the packer ownership prohibition.
January 29, 2002
"Land Grant Law and Economics Professors Support Packer Ban." OCM praised a report released late last week by three university lawyers and economists from three different land grant universities in favor of the packer feeding ban.
January 22, 2002
"Respected Ag Economist Found Problems with Captive Supplies." OCM releases letter by Dr. Richard Sexton, ag economist from University of California-Davis, showing how meat packers can manipulate the cash market.
December 21, 2002
"GIPSA Finds Packers had 28% more Captive Supply than Previously Revealed." OCM comments on new USDA study comparing actual beef packer records with what was previously reported to USDA by packers with regard to captive supply numbers.
December 21, 2002
"Meat Packers Continue Misinformation Campaign." OCM reveals letters sent by meat packers to producers that misrepresent the provisions in the packer feeding ban in an attempt to
defeat the legislation. USDA refuses to agree with packer interpretation.
December 14, 2001
"OCM Hails Senate Vote for Competition and Against Packer Ownership." OCM praises the 51 to 46 Senate vote in favor of a farm bill amendment prohibiting meat packers from owning cattle, swine or sheep.
December 5, 2001
"First Ever OCM Action Alert," OCM asks members and citizens to call their Senators in support of competition and fairness amendments to the Senate version of the Farm Bill.
September 21, 2001
"OCM Says Farm Bill Should Serve All Farmers/Consumers Through Competition Policy." OCM responds to two new reports on Farm Bill principals stating that the inclusion of a Competition Title is necessary to correct problems with competition in the domestic markets.
July 3, 2001
“USDA Review of Livestock Reporting Misses Mark; 3/60 Rule Should be Abolished." OCM analyzes recent USDA-AMS report on Mandatory Price Reporting.
June 25, 2001
“OCM: Missouri Discrimination Law at Risk." OCM raises concerns with recent developments surrounding Missouri’s livestock price discrimination law.
June 15, 2001
“Delaware Judge Orders Tyson to Purchase IBP; Ruling Puts Consumers and Independent Producers at Risk." OCM reacts to Delaware court ruling that required Tyson to honor its agreement to acquire IBP.
June 4, 2001
“GIPSA Fails in Prosecution of Farmland National Beef." OCM remarks on the settlement of the retaliation case between GIPSA and Farmland National.
May 31, 2001
“IBP Engages in Illegal Market Retaliation in Missouri." OCM comments on IBP’s market activity in reaction to Missouri’s price discrimination law.
May 17, 2001
“OCM ASKS FOR A COMPETITION TITLE IN THE NEXT FARM BILL." OCM testifies before Senate Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee and recommends that Congress include a Competition Title in the Farm Bill.
May 15, 2001
“OCM Praises Court Decision Upholding Missouri Price Discrimination Law." OCM comments on the Eighth Circuit opinion upholding Missouri’s law prohibiting price discrimination.
May 13, 2001
“OCM expresses disappointment with NCBA apologies for 3/60 rule." OCM criticizes NCBA for disregarding the directives of its members by defending the 3/60 rule imposed by USDA on the Mandatory Price Reporting system.
April 26, 2001
OCM press release, "FARMERS BAFFLED AT COOP’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH PRICE-FIXER TO THE WORLD." OCM expressed serious concern with the possibility of this country’s largest coop selling elevators to Archer Daniels Midland.
March 23, 2001
OCM press release, "The NATIONAL PORK PRODUCERS COUNCIL HAS BECOME A FRONT FOR AGRIBUSINESS." OCM reacts to the National Pork Producers’ Council’s (NPPC) continued refusal to represent the interests of independent hog farmers.
January 29, 2001
OCM press release, “Tyson/IBP Clears Antitrust Review Highlighting Need for Suspension of Packer Mergers." OCM reacts to Tyson's announcement that its acquisition of IBP has cleared regulatory review.
January 15, 2001
OCM press release, “Checkoff Vote Serves as Wakeup Call to Farm/Commodity Groups on Concentration." OCM comments on the recently announced vote to end the mandatory pork checkoff.
January 2, 2001
OCM press release, “Tyson-IBP Deal Puts Consumers and Independent Producers at Risk." Outlines the dangers associated with Tyson's announced acquisition of IBP.
December 5, 2000
OCM press release, "OCM Renews call for Suspension of Processor Mergers." OCM's reaction to Tyson's offer to purchase IBP.
November 14, 2000
OCM press release, "OCM Calls for Moratorium on Packer Mergers." Outlining OCM's opposition to continued waive of mergers, especially in light of Smithfield's proposal to purchase IBP.
September 1, 2000
OCM press release, “Judge Unseals Transcript in Packer Case.” Announcing the release of the transcript in the trial involving Consolidated Nutrition and Seaboard Farms.
July 31, 2000
OCM Press Release, “Major Policy Release: A Food and Agricultural Policy for the 21st Century.” Announcing the release of the papers that resulted from OCM’s Food Policy Retreat.
May 1, 2000
OCM News Release, “Agricultural Think Tank Brings Together Experts." Detailing the OCM Food Policy Retreat.
April 29, 2000
Organization for Competitive Markets, “Food Policy Retreat – Abstract." An abstract of the Food Policy retreat hosted by OCM.
March 15, 2000
Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage, “Special Order Speech Regarding Agribusiness Consolidation.”
March 9, 2000
OCM News Release, “USDA Study Correlates Captive Supply with Lower Cattle Prices."
July 24, 1998
August 14, 1998
September 30, 1998
Hog Prices
Why the Secrecy?
Neal Smith Letter to Janet Reno
OCM calls USDA study 'junk science'
USDA Study Correlates Captive Supply with Lower Cattle Prices
The Organization For Competitive Markets is a multidisciplinary, nonprofit group of farmers, ranchers, academics, attorneys, and policy makers dedicated to reclaiming the agricultural marketplace for independent farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
Organization For Competitive Markets
P.O. Box 6486 - Lincoln, NE 68506
Tel: 662-476-5568
e-mail: ocm@competitivemarkets.com