Organization for Competitive Markets Announces 2016’s 18th Annual Conference Theme, Location, Dates and Agenda
“Preserving Independent Family Agriculture through Competitive Markets”

For Media: OCM Pres. Mike Callicrate—(785) 332-8218 or John Hansen VP—(402) 476-8815

For Conference and Registration Information: Pat Craycraft—(402) 327-8390 or (402) 416-5731

LINCOLN, NE. Mike Callicrate, President of The Organization of Competitive Markets (OCM) announced that OCM is holding its 18th Annual Conference, August 19-20, 2016, at the Doubletree Hilton, Downtown Omaha, Nebraska. This year’s program features keynote presentations by four nationally recognized champions of family agriculture and competitive markets:
Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union, will the noon keynote speaker:
“Concentration, Trade, and the Future of Family Farming.”
Michael Stumo, CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America and national expert on trade policy and TPP will be the afternoon keynote speaker:
“We are Winning the TPP Battle, But How Do We Win the Trade Policy War?”
Barry C. Lynn, a senior fellow in the New America Foundation’s Economic Growth Program, and widely read author on market concentration will keynote the Friday evening banquet on his latest book:
“Cornered: The New Monopoly Capitalism and the Economics of Destruction”
Diana Moss, president of the American Antitrust Institute will provide a keynote presentation on the recent acceleration of major ag input mergers under consideration which has the rural sector wondering about their future in a system with no competition or choices:
“Merger Mania Continues in the Ag Input Sector”
OCM President Mike Callicrate said, “We are pleased to move our annual OCM Conference back to Nebraska and Omaha this year. We are really excited about the top notch set of speakers we have with us this year who will focus on the all-important issues of agricultural markets and trade policy. We encourage food producers and food eaters to attend and interact with our national experts. If you care about the future of family farm agriculture, you should attend this year’s annual meeting.”
OCM Vice President John Hansen called on the OCM members in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, South Dakota, and Minnesota to drive to Omaha for this year’s conference. “This year’s OCM speakers are the national experts you always wished you had the opportunity to listen to and meet. Omaha is centrally located, and affordable. Registration fees are $50 and room rates are $99 if you register by August 5th. In addition to the outstanding national speakers, we will have panel discussions on the proposed Costco Poultry project, Right to Repair, legislative updates and checkoffs,” Hansen concluded.
For conference registration, call Pat Craycraft at:(402) 327-8390 or (402) 416-5731 or go to: www.competitivemarkets.com
For Lodging Reservations: Call Elaina (402) 636-4906 by August 5th at $99 orhttp://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/O/OMAH-DT-OCM-20160817/index.jhtml

 

“Preserving Independent Family Agriculture

Through Competitive Markets”

 

Doubletree Hilton Omaha Downtown

August 19-20, 2016

AGENDA

Friday, August 19

7:30 – 8:30:     Registration

 

8:30     Introductions, Opening Remarks . . . . . .Mike Callicrate, President OCM

Invocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……Judy Heffernan, Secretary OCM

Welcome to Nebraska . . . . . . . . ………. John Hansen, Vice-President OCM

 

8:45    Collaboration Work & Introductions…Joe Maxwell, Interim Executive Director OCM

Sarah Bell, Eleventh Hour Project/AARC (Animal Agriculture Reform Collaborative)

Louisa McCune, Kirkpatrick Foundation

 

9:20    A New Level of Vertical Integration:  Costco Enters Poultry Production in Fremont: An Opportunity for Improvement, Or An Alarming Sign For the Future?

Moderator:                  John Hansen, VP OCM, and President Nebraska Farmers Union

The Local Efforts:       Graham Christensen, GC Resolve

Grower Education:     Mike Weaver, Director OCM & President of the Contract Poultry Growers of the Virginias

Poultry Practices:        Don Stull, Treasurer OCM, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Kansas, Author of “Slaughterhouse Blues”

 

10:30   Refreshment Break

                                                          

10:40   Community Initiatives to Halt Vertical Integration

Moderator:      Don Stull, OCM Treasurer

Local Opposition Success:    Chris Petersen, OCM Director

11:00   Emerging Consolidation Issues

Moderator:      Mike Callicrate, OCM President

  • Sustainable U.S. Global Round Table…Vaughn Meyer, Director, OCM & CBB
  • Right to Repair…John Hansen, President Nebraska Farmers Union & VP OCM

 

11:35   OCM Collaboration Reports – Joe Maxwell, Interim OCM Executive Director

 

12:00   Lunch

 

12:30   Luncheon Keynote Speaker:  Roger Johnson, President of National Farmers Union

“Concentration, Trade, and the Future of Family Farming”

 

1:00:    “We are Winning the Trans-Pacific Partnership Battle, But

How Do We Win the Trade Policy War?”

Michael Stumo, CEO, Coalition for a Prosperous America

1:20:  Panel Discussion Examining Trade Policy’s Far Reaching Impacts on Competition, Antitrust

                        Enforcement, Domestic Laws, GNP, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Sovereignty

  • Joe Logan, President Ohio Farmers Union, OCM & CPA Board Member
  • Roger Johnson, President, National Farmers Union
  • Michael Stumo, CEO, Coalition for a Prosperous America
  • Barry Lynn, Director of the Open Markets Program and Senior Fellow at

New America

 

2:00:  The Beef Checkoff:  A Failed Program That Compels Cattlemen to Fund

                                  the Destruction of Their Business and Way of Life

Moderator:  Mike Callicrate, President OCM

  • Fred Stokes…A brief history
  • Vaughn Meyer, Director OCM…….What we get for our checkoff
  • David Wright, President, Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska Board Member of Cattlemen’s Beef Board……………The Beef Checkoff; Rife with Corruption
  • Matthew Penzer, Lead Attorney on the OCM  USDA FOIA lawsuit and

related checkoff litigation………….An Update on the OCM lawsuit

  • Dudley Butler, J. D. Butler Farm and Ranch Law Group PLLC & past USDA GIPSA Administrator……………..Where do we go from here?
  • Q & A

 

3:30:   Refreshment Break  

 

3:45:    Merger Mania Continues in the Ag Input Sector

Diana Moss, President, American Antitrust Institute

Moderator:  Don Stull, Treasurer, OCM

 

4:45     Legislative Update…Joe Maxwell, Interim Executive Director OCM        

           

5:15     Mixer (Cash Bar)

 

7:00     Banquet…Master of Ceremonies:  Mike Callicrate, President OCM

 

Helmuth Award Presentations

 

Banquet Keynote Speaker: Barry Lynn, Director of the Open Markets program, a

Senior Fellow at New America, and author of:

 

“Cornered: The New Monopoly Capitalism and the Economics of Destruction”

 

Saturday, August 20, 2016 – 8:00 AM

 

OCM Membership Meeting:  All Members Encouraged to Attend

  • Business & Financial Reports
  • Election of Officers

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