A project of the
Organization for Competitive Markets
 
Date: July 16, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact: Steve Cady: 402.792.0041

Nebraska Producers Support
Cattlemen's Competitive Market Project

Lincoln, NE ~ During a recent swing of producer information meetings throughout Nebraska and Wyoming, the Cattlemen's Competitive Market Project (CCMP) received overwhelming support from cattlemen.

"Having listened to presentations given by representatives of CCMP and following the actions and positions taken since its establishment in December of last year, I am convinced that cattlemen should support this effort. If we are to keep the next generation of ranchers in this business it's crucial that we act on the issue of competition and restore profitability opportunities for ourselves and our families,"said Dave Hebbert, Hebbert Charlois Breeders, Hyannis, NE.

Michael Stumo, legal counsel for CCMP, and Steve Cady, executive director, have presented at producer meetings at fairs and livestock auction markets in Nebraska and Wyoming during the past two weeks. On August 15, both appeared at the Grant County Fair at a meeting sponsored by Ogallala Livestock Auction Market.

"It has become more and more evident every year that the negative impact of packer concentration is streaming down into the calf and feeder market,"noted Dwayne Mays, Ogallala Livestock Auction Market. "Until CCMP was established, grassroots producers had little voice on competition issues. CCMP is armed with the best academic and legal minds in the business and its being driven by cattlemen for cattlemen. We're pulling out all the stops to get the message in front of producers and we've found that once they hear the facts they're ready to step to the plate."

Bob Rothwell, W.J. Rothwell Ranch, Hyannis, NE agreed saying, "Our family ranch is committed to CCMP and we're encouraging other ranchers to consider the same. Cattlemen are facing many problems but none are as crucial as restoring competition. If we resolve the competition issues, many of the other problems will be taken care of in the process. It's time to put our collective shoulder to the wheel and make positive change happen. The first step is getting out to meetings like the one held in Grant County, becoming engaged and informed."

Established in December 2002 by the Organization For Competitive Markets, CCMP is a fund committed to the restoration of fair and equitable markets for cattlemen. The fund will help OCM and other organizations on captive supply and concentration issues at the packer and retail levels. All contributions are voluntary and are tax deductible.

CCMP is not a membership organization. Funding comes from livestock auction markets and independent feeders on a per-head basis at the point of sale. All contributions are tax deductible under OCM’s non-profit status. For more information, contact Steve Cady at 402.792.0041 or visit the web site at www.competitivemarkets.com. 

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.