Organization for Competitive Markets
P.O. Box 6486
Lincoln, NE 68506
Date: December 2, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Stumo, 860.379.6199
OCM Congratulates Ag Secretary Nominee Johanns
Lincoln, NE ~ The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) congratulated Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns on his nomination to succeed Ann Veneman as USDA secretary. Nebraska has a high percentage of independent family farms and ranches engaged in cattle, hog, corn, soybean and wheat production. The state prohibits packer ownership of livestock, has an important auction market infrastructure, and the boasts the strongest corporate farming prohibition in the country.
“I would like to congratulate Governor Johanns on his nomination to head the second largest agency of the U.S. government,” said Keith Mudd, OCM president. “We are hopeful his background presiding over a state with a strong independent agriculture system will provide more perspective to USDA than past leadership has exhibited. Nebraska has more independent cattle feedlots than any other state, and spreads the benefits of agriculture widely due to Initiative 300, the strongest corporate farming law in the country.” Studies have shown corporate farming laws correlate with an increased percentage of independent producers.
In June 2004, Johanns expressed concern over USDA’s policy of releasing preliminary bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) positives, rather than waiting for conclusive test results. This is a position with which OCM agrees. However, Johanns’ past position supporting unrestricted global trade in agriculture, despite disease risks and international regulatory differences, causes OCM some concern. There is also concern that Johanns does not support efforts to reduce concentration in agriculture.
“We look forward to working with Governor Johanns after his likely confirmation by the U.S. Senate,” continued Mudd. “We hope he recognizes the market harm caused by concentration, captive supplies and unrestricted global trade. The Packers & Stockyards Administration must be more diligent enforcing the law and implementing restrictions on captive supplies. On trade, Johanns is likely to preside over a fundamental, historical re-alignment in which the U.S. becomes a substantial net importer of food rather than an exporter unless steps are taken to prevent this gutting of our independent farmer/rancher production base. The future of Rural America is at stake.”
The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) 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. OCM helps lead the Cattlemen’s Competitive Market Project which is a voluntary contribution program funding the effort to increase demand for U.S. cattle and beef in open and competitive markets.