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OCM member suing Beef Checkoff with HSUS help

The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) has partnered with several law firms including attorneys with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in support of one of their members suing the Beef Checkoff.

OCM President Fred Stokes tells Brownfield they are suing to stop the flow of Checkoff dollars to large vertically integrated corporations, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA).  Stokes says it’s about transparency.

“This program is flawed. It has proven to be nothing but a thinly disguised revenue stream rather than a beef promotion program,” Stokes says.

NCBA President J.D. Alexander, a Nebraska rancher, tells Brownfield the Beef Checkoff is doing nothing wrong and IS transparent.

“It’s as transparent as can be and it’s right out there with USDA oversight and audits,” says Alexander.

Alexander says the HSUS is not a friend to U.S. agriculture,“When you partner with an organization like the HSUS it just seems like it’s diametrically opposite of each other and I really don’t understand it.”  Alexander adds, “You know, I happen to be from Nebraska and our governor is very adamant that HSUS will not make inroads in our state. And I think a lot of people maybe know better than I what the end result may be – it’s just that they don’t use science for facts. They use a lot of emotion and I just don’t understand what their end result may be but it appears to be putting production agriculture – and in particular livestock producing – out of business.”

Stokes says the HSUS supports the OCM’s mission of protecting family farmers, “We’re not working with the Humane Society because they’re giving us a bunch of money. We’re working with them because they voluntarily said ‘Hey, this is a righteous undertaking and we want to be a part of it. We want to promote family farms and keep them around and we’re willing to partner with others in litigation to see that that happens,’” says Stokes. He added that the lawsuit is being filed in Kansas. The OCM is holding its annual convention in Kansas City where HSUS leader Wayne Pacelle will be one of the featured speakers.

AUDIO: J.D. Alexander (6:00 mp3)

AUDIO: Fred Stokes (15:00 mp3)

  • H$U$ is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and a draining leech on society. There is NO advantage to OCM in this parterning, but there is a BIG advantage to H$U$–that of legitmizing and appearing to be mainstream and to really care about animal welfare. H$U$ is led by vegan AR-inspired men for whom anti-animal-use is still a closet-agenda to much of the public. However, due to the efforts of several animal enterprises and MANY “animal welfare”-inspired individuals who are anti-animal rights (which is NOT the same as animal welfare), the word is getting out there, and more and more pressure is being brought on our government to purge itself of the AR infiltrators who seek to sabotage animal use in our society. The USDA/APHIS proposed reg to the AWA act is a *perfect example*. This proposed reg was *outdoubtedly* written by the AR stable of attorneys, and its *intention* (though likely not the intention of the USDA itself) is to destroy small to medium *experienced* quality home pet breeders. This reg is NOT a “puppy mill” bill, it is an anti-pet-breeding bill, PERIOD. Its implementation is extremely high on the AR-organization goals for this year!

  • I have been working on getting people involved in speaking up about the USDA/APHIS rule change titled retail pet store. Truly disheartening that the dog breeding industry is the only one taking this to heart. Considering in a conference call with Aphis they stated any animal not sold for food/fiber will cause someone to be non compliant with the USDA unless sold on the site it was bred/raised. Or if some one acquires a USDA license. Now to a person who thinks about this 2 seconds we know horses are not sold for food/fiber and normaly sale within a sale barn setting. I guess the equine industry thinks they are going to get a pass on this. I have called my federal elects repeatedly. I hear they are only hearing from the AR side on this. So if this is what they people say they want get it they shall. What is truly sad is if half the people this is going to effect took time to make a few calls this would be game over. Sadly the comments end tomorrow and I have seen no one of importance in the fed congress speak up on this matter.

  • Excellent comment, MCovault. US Ag producers need to be vigilant in fighting the HSUS’ anti livestock agenda. Look at their Meatless Monday campaign designed to curb meat sales, drive prices higher, and thereby reduce the amount of livestock utilized to feed America. This type of “partnership” is not healthy for livestock producers, or America’s food suppliers. HSUS is merely easing their anti animal agenda into mainstream America one partnership and one law at a time. One day, we are going to look around us and wonder HOW it happened. Instead of just getting upset when we read about this stuff, we need to get upset enough to take the six minutes it takes to call our congressmen and let them know how we feel. Believe it or not, my congressmen were under the impression that HSUS was a pet shelter! It is up to us to protect our industry, and these days protecting our industry is as simple as picking up our cell phones or using our keyboards. No excuse to sit by and watch the assault on our rights, freedoms, and way of life. Cheers.

  • Marcy. I couldn’t have said it beetter. Exceppt they will be going to court thanks to the Feld Corporation parent company of Ringling Brothers Barnam and Bailey Circus. Rico violations, money laundrying, extortion, etc…….. Prison orange will look good on all the executives of H$U$.

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