A group of 16 farm organizations, led by Farm Action Fund, has announced a national tour protesting commodity checkoff programs. The “Enough is Enough Tour” is set to take place across the country during five separate events.
The coalition said the tour’s main focus is to highlight corruption in checkoff programs. They contend checkoff programs “drive consolidation of the food system into the hands of the largest multinational corporations to the detriment of farmers and ranchers.”
The groups are calling on Congress to pass a bill that “levels the playing field.”
The first tour stop is set for May 14 in Minnesota, with the tour concluding on June 4 in North Dakota. The last tour stop is intended to coincide with the House Agriculture Committee’s planned date to markup the next farm bill.
“Change begins by putting the brakes on the government’s billion-dollar gravy train known as checkoff programs by passing the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act,” said Angela Huffman, vice president of Farm Action Fund, sponsor and organizer of the tour.
The tour is endorsed by: Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association, American Grassfed Association, Buckeye Quality Beef Association, Competitive Markets Action, Dakota Resource Council, Farm Action, Farm Action Fund, Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming, Kansas Black Farmers Association, Montana Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Farmers Union, Organization for Competitive Markets, Pennsylvania Farmers Union, Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF), Western Organization of Resource Councils and Wisconsin Farmers Union. — WLJ
