Howdy, What percentage of NCBA’s total operating budget comes from involuntary excise taxes known as checkoff funds? Estimates of over 70% are commonly used. There is a reason NCBA gets the overwhelming majority of the checkoff dollars. The checkoff operating structure is purposely tilted in favor of NCBA. No wonder NCBA does not want more…

Dear Labor Friends & Allies, At our convention in April, United Food & Commercial Workers International Union delegates voted unanimously to oppose the pending Kroger-Albertsons merger. We are now circulating this letter opposing the merger to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and are asking our friends and allies to sign it. The deadline to sign-on…

By Priscilla DeGregory June 28, 20235:36pm A former executive with the New York City Department of Education was convicted Wednesday of taking bribes in exchange for turning a blind eye to tainted food served to public school kids — including chicken tenders laden with plastic, bones and metal. Eric Goldstein — the former head of…

Imports and deception threaten new local/regional meat plants Posted onJuly 4, 2023byMike Callicrate Rather than supporting our own U.S. cattle producers and local/regional meat plants, beef from other countries is receiving preference from USDA and big food companies. Below-cost-of-production imported beef is blended with cheap fat from over-fed cattle, and Lean Finely Textured Beef (aka…

Montana Cattlemen’s Association Press Release Release Date: June 30, 2023 Contact person: Gilles Stockton (406) 428-2183 Email: mca HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FAVORS INJUSTICE IN LIVESTOCK MARKETS Op-Ed by Gilles Stockton, Montana Cattlemen’s Association Director The essence of democratic process is the opportunity for all parties to be able to voice their views. The House of…

June 20, 2023 The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack Secretary United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue SW Washington, D.C. 20250 Dear Secretary Vilsack: We write to express our disappointment in the failure of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to publish annual reports to Congress on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Program and…

USDA Launches Effort to Strengthen Substantiation of Animal-Raising Claims Release & Contact Info Press Release Release No. 0127.23 Contact: USDA Press Email: press WASHINGTON, June 14, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it is implementing a multi-step effort aimed at strengthening the substantiation of animal-raising claims. This action builds on…

Opinion-Editorial by R-CALF USA Region VIII Director Dave Hyde Below please find an op-ed by R-CALF USA Region VIII Director Dave Hyde regarding the Opinion by Colin Woodall: “Sen. Mike Lee sides with animal rights activists over Utah ranchers,” published May 18, 2023, in The Salt Lake Tribune. Region VIII Director Dave Hyde The recent…

Walmart building plant in Kansas Beef-packing to be site’s purpose by Serenah McKay | Today at 7:30 a.m. FILE – In this Nov. 18, 2020 file photo, a Walmart store sign is visible from Route 28 in Derry, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) Walmart Inc. is investing $257 million to build a beef-packing plant in…

Retail Consolidation: Crisis Across the Food Chain June 8, 2023 Amid the ongoing fight to stop the disastrous proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger, Farm Action’s Angela Huffman discussed the downstream effects of retail consolidation on farmers, consumers, and other small retailers during the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s (ILSR) recent webinar. Angela spoke alongside FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya,…