Statement from Chandler Keys, NCBA Vice President for Government Affairs

“Media reports that the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to halt an Organization of Competitive Markets (OCM) program to promote OCM’s competitive marketing project are completely false.

“The OCM has apparently sued the USDA, saying the agency wrongfully closed down its voluntary project funding program.  In the news media reports, NCBA is identified as having had an impact on the agency’s decision regarding that effort.

“The NCBA never commented on or discussed with USDA the efforts of OCM to institute or implement voluntary assessment programs.  However, NCBA did gather information for creating its own auction market voluntary programs to benefit producer-sponsored organizations.  In doing so, it contacted the USDA to determine what statutory and regulatory requirements are needed for establishing a voluntary collection process.

“Had the OCM done its homework, it would have come up with the lawful and legal requirements for these kinds of programs on their own.  Instead, the organization prefers to blame others for its misfortunes and lack of planning, and NCBA – which knows to go to the overseers of these plans – has become a target for their ire.

“Communications between NCBA and the USDA on this issue are open and available to any interested party who requests it.  We encourage media outlets who wish to report the entire story to call us for those documents.”