P.O. Box 6486
426 St. Joseph Street
Date: September 15, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
John Lockie, OCM. 402-817-4443
Carrie Longwood, SDSGA, 605-342-0429
South Dakota Stockgrowers Assn and OCM to Jointly
Promote Cattlemen’s
Competitive Market Project
On September 10, 2004, the general membership of the South
Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) approved becoming the South Dakota
stakeholder for the Cattlemen's Competitive Market Project (CCMP).
CCMP is a voluntary self-help program conceived by the
Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) to increase demand for U.S. cattle
in fair, open and competitive markets.
CCMP is not another cattle association, but voluntarily contribution
program creating solutions to the crucial market problems faced by producers. Suggested contributions are 50 cents per
head with all money collected split three ways, a third stays with a state
stakeholder organization, a third to R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America and
a third to OCM.
SDSGA President Ken Knuppe said, “The South Dakota
Stockgrowers is very pleased to become the state stakeholder organization for
CCMP. Our association works on several
different issues, including environmental, taxation, and property rights, but we
realize that without a strong market and demand for our product, which is live
cattle, we cannot address any other issues.”
During the convention many Stockgrowers members signed
auction market deduction authorization cards. The cards are delivered and kept
on file at auction markets so when participating individuals sell cattle at the
market, 50 cents a head will be voluntarily deducted from their check and sent
to CCMP. For example, Faith Livestock Auction in Faith, SD is actively
participating in CCMP and has added a line to their Check-In Ticket so anyone
selling cattle at their market can choose to voluntarily contribute to CCMP.
CCMP Program Director John Lockie attended the Stockgrowers
convention and told the convention goers, “CCMP is a way to further the entire
competition movement. R-CALF is the national cattle producer’s organization,
OCM is the think-tank providing research and expert testimony and the South
Dakota Stockgrowers are the grassroots organization in the state; all three
groups work closely with each other to increase the overall demand for U.S.
cattle in open and competitive markets.”
Lockie went on to say, “It is exciting to have the South
Dakota Stockgrowers participating in CCMP.
The South Dakota Stockgrowers have been true leaders for the U.S. cattle
industry and continue to work towards a fair and honest profit in the U.S.
cattle industry.”
Cattle producers across South Dakota can participate in CCMP by calling the Stockgrowers office at 605-342-0429 or John Lockie at 402-817-4443. Cattle producers outside of South Dakota can participate by calling John Lockie for more information.