WORC in the News!

Guide for Roundup Ready® Alfalfa Shows the environmental, agricultural, and economic risks that genetically modified (GM) alfalfa poses to U.S. conventional and organic farmers, ranchers and consumers
10/03/2006

Filling the Gaps : How to Improve Oil and Gas Reclamation and Reduce Taxpayer Liability Report is released by WORC.
8/16/2005

Energy Bill Harms Landowners
A U.S. House-Senate conference committee approved an energy bill on July 26, 2005. Nancy Sorenson, a rancher from Arvada, Wyoming, issued the following statement on behalf of WORC, the Western Organization of Resource Councils. 7/27/2005

Rural Leaders say NO to CAFTA
Nearly 70 rural and agricultural leaders from seven Western states called for Congress to kill a flawed Central American trade deal in a letter to Congressional Committees. (pdf 118k) 6/6/2005

Ranchers Relish Open, Competitive Markets
The Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) urged Congress to pass legislation restoring fair and competitive livestock markets by limiting use of unfair contracts. 4/29/05

Westerners Prominent in Controversy Over Reopening Canadian Border
Western justice triumphed last week as both Western lawmakers and a federal judge in Montana stood against premature opening of the U.S.-Canada border to live cattle. 3/4/05

Farmer Protection Acts Crop Up in Three States
Farmers in Vermont, Montana, and North Dakota are supporting legislation to make biotechnology companies, not farmers and grain elevators, liable for damages from genetically modified crops. These bills would also prevent the manufacturers from suing farmers whose fields are contaminated by genetically engineered crops and are unintentionally growing these crops. 2/4/05

Report Finds Need to Strengthen State and Federal Oil and Gas Programs
A report released today by WORC calls on federal and state agencies to balance booming oil and gas development with public health and environmental safety by strengthening inspection and enforcement programs. 2/2/05

Beef Checkoff on Supreme Court Menu
Independent ranchers had their day in court today as the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of the mandatory beef checkoff. 12/8/04

Farmer, Ranchers and Consumers Praise Decision to Keep Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling
Consumers have a right to know and choose the origin of the food they buy and consume. Consumers, farmers, and ranchers overwhelmingly support mandatory labeling. Fortunately, special interests were unable to stop this widely supported labeling program. 11/22/04

Genetically Modified Wheat is Still a Market Risk
A leading grain market economist says commercial introduction of genetically modified (GM) wheat still risks the loss of up to half of U.S. wheat export markets and up to a one-third drop in price. 11/16/04

Cattle Ranchers Say They’re Forced to Subsidize Opposition
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) will lose the cash cow that family farmers and ranchers say has been used against them if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees with briefs opposing the beef checkoff program filed Friday by the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), and several individuals. 10/18/04

Farmers Want Liability Protection and Independent Research on Genetically Modified Crops
Two farmers from the Northern Plains called today for a time-out on introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops. 9/17/04

Ranchers Say Country-of-Origin Labeling More Important Than National Animal Identification Program
A proposed national animal identification program is drawing criticism from farmers, ranchers and consumers, who say mandatory country-of-origin labeling is more important. 8/13/04

Ag Committee Steps Backwards on Labeling Program
The Agriculture Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives voted today to remove a provision of the 2002 Farm Bill requiring mandatory country of origin labeling of meat, fresh produce, fresh fruit, and fish and to institute a voluntary program. 7/22/04

House Trade Agreement Vote Outsources Agricultural Sectors
Approval of the U.S. – Australia Free Trade Agreement by the U.S. House of Representatives today threatens the livelihoods of family farmers and ranchers, WORC (Western Organization of Resource Councils) said today.

Monsanto Pulls Applications for Genetically Modified Wheat
Monsanto’s withdrawal of applications for approval of genetically modified wheat gives state lawmakers an opportunity to develop policies on new genetically modified crops before they hit crisis stage, the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) said today. 6/18/04

Trade Agreement Would Hurt Family Agriculture & Rural Communities
Citing harm to family farmers and ranchers, WORC (Western Organization of Resource Councils) urged members of two Congressional committees and their House and Senate colleagues to reject a trade agreement with Australia. 6/15/04

Trade Agreement Outsources American Cowboy
While President Bush warmly greets Prime Minister John Howard of Australia in a show of support for the Australian Free Trade Agreement, ranchers from the Western Organization of Resource Councils wonder why President Bush is trading away the American cowboy. 6/4/04

Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Beef Checkoff Program,
Independent cattle producers are looking forward to a final decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on the mandatory beef checkoff program, said the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), a plaintiff in the beef checkoff case. 5/26/04

Family Producers and Rural Communities at Risk
The Australia Free Trade Agreement faces strong opposition from family farmers and ranchers, according to the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC). The Bush administration will sign the bilateral trade agreement today. 5/18/04

Grassroots Opposition Forces Monsanto to Drop Genetically Modified Wheat
“Introduction of genetically modified wheat would have been a commercial disaster. Monsanto’s announcement is a victory for farmers in the United States and Canada and our consumers overseas. After five years of effort, we have finally convinced Monsanto to face the reality that our markets do not want Roundup Ready wheat." 5/10/05

Legislation Would Protect Water, Landowners Facing Oil and Gas Development
On March 23, 2004, Representative Mark Udall (D-CO) introduced legislation to balance oil and gas development with protections for landowners and western water resources. 4/13/04

Rancher Encourages Responsible Energy Development Policies
Testimony describes loss of health, water, land, and money
in 5-year struggle with coalbed methane developers 3/24/04

WORC Cheers Bi-partisan Captive Supply Reform Legislation
The Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), representing farmers and ranchers in seven states, applauded a bi-partisan effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to stop market manipulation that has severely damaged American family farm livestock producers. 3/18/04

WORC Thanks Plaintiffs, Jury in Beef Monopoly Lawsuit
A jury in Montgomery, Alabama today found that IBP, the nation’s largest beefpacker, had used illegal cattle contracts to manipulate cattle prices and cost U.S. cattle producers $1.28 billion. 2/17/04

WORC Responds to Government Appeal in Beef Checkoff Case
The Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the U.S. Department of Justice today asked the Supreme Court to review an appeals court decision that the beef checkoff program is unconstitutional. 2/13/04

Agreement with Australia Trades Away U.S. Agriculture
The recently concluded trade negotiation between the United States and Australia threatens the livelihoods of family farmers and ranchers, WORC said today. 2/8/04

U.S. Agricultural Trade Policy - Better to Give Than Receive
In the midst of this holiday season, U.S. trade negotiators are gift wrapping domestic agricultural markets for corporate agribusiness. 12/12/03

New Legislation Would Protect Water, Landowners Facing Oil and Gas Development
Just a few weeks after the Senate failed to pass an energy bill, Representatives Mark Udall (D-CO) and Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced legislation to balance oil and gas development with protections for landowners and western water resources. 12/9/03

WORC & 165 Groups to President: Support Labeling Law
A coalition of 165 agriculture and consumer groups sent a letter to President Bush today stating that a two-year delay of the mandatory country-of-origin labeling law is not supported by the overwhelming majority of agriculture producers or consumers and urges the President to oppose Congressional efforts to delay country-of-origin labeling. 12/3/03

North Dakota Farmer Addresses Trade Officials In Miami
North Dakota farmer Tom Wiley speaks to both international trade representatives and trade activists in separate panel discussions next week in Miami, Florida, before the start of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Ministerial meeting set for November 20-21.

Your calls paid off -Country of Origin Labeling Wins in Senate!
The evening of November 7, the Senate voted 58-36 in favor of Country of Origin Labeling. The vote was on a motion to table an amendment by Senators Daschle, Johnson and Enzi to disapprove a provision of the House Agriculture Appropriations bill that would cut off funding to implement Country of Origin Labeling for meat.

New Report: GM Wheat Could Cause Export Wreck
A new study released today by the Western Organization of Resource Councils paints a grim picture for the U.S. wheat industry if genetically modified hard red spring wheat is introduced in the near future. (10/03)

'Clock is Ticking' for Unconstitutional Beef Checkoff Says WORC
WORC's Mabel Dobbs said family farmers and ranchers are one step closer to freedom from the unconstitutional beef checkoff after the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reconsider its earlier decision striking down the checkoff. (10/03)

High Beef Prices Hide Unfair Cattle Markets
Despite high beef prices in grocery stores, a group of independent ranchers say the markets for their cattle still need fixing, and they're going to Washington, DC, to let elected officials know about it. (9/03)

WORC Expects to Prevail in Beef Checkoff Lawsuit
We anticipated this filing. We did not think the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board would voluntarily stop taking money from independent producers. With each court ruling, independent producers are closer to a final decision. We believe, in the end, that the earlier court rulings will stand and confirm that it is unconstitutional to force independent producers to pay for a beef checkoff program. We look forward to that decision. (8/03)

U.S. Court of Appeals Declares Beef Checkoff Unconstitutional
Today, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal judge's ruling that the mandatory beef checkoff program is unconstitutional. (7/03)

WORC Commends Senator Enzi and Cosponsors for Introduction of Captive Supply Reform Act
The Western Organization of Resource Councils commended Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) and five cosponsors today for introducing the Captive Supply Reform Act to restore open, fair market competition in the livestock industry. (5/13/03)

U.S. House Passage of Energy Bill Disappoints WORC
WORC Energy Issue Team Chairperson Terrence Kardong issued the following statement in response to today's U.S. House vote to pass an energy bill: We are very disappointed with the energy bill (HR 6) that passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. The bill represents a one-way ticket on a fast track to increased fossil fuel production, with no protections to ensure that energy production is done right. A balanced approach is needed. This is not a balanced bill. 4/11

WORC Urges Simple Food Labeling for Ranchers, Consumers
The United States Department of Agriculture should simplify record keeping when it adopts rules to allow consumers to know and choose the country of origin of their food, the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) said in comments submitted yesterday. The group of farmers, ranchers and consumers said USDA should allow U.S. cattle and hog producers to self-certify the origin of their animals, or use origin records already required on imported beef, pork, fish and produce. 4/10

Wyoming Rancher Asks Congress to "Do It Right"
A Wyoming rancher submitted testimony today to the House Resources Committee, urging Congress to make the oil, gas and coalbed methane industry “Do It Right,” and protect private property rights. 3/18

Farmers Push for Economic Analysis of Genetically Modified Wheat Introduction
Groups representing wheat farmers from across the country are asking the federal Animal Plant Health Inspection Service to take a hard economic look at genetically modified wheat before the agency clears the way for its commercial introduction. 3/11

WORC Says USDA Bungled Estimate of Labeling Costs
The United States Department of Agriculture overestimated the costs of labeling food by its country of origin because it misread guidelines for making the estimate, the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) said in comments submitted last Friday. The group of farmers, ranchers and consumers said the government should withdraw its estimate of the cost of country of origin labeling and publicize the withdrawal "to mitigate the spread of misinformation and misleading reports" that have followed publication of USDA's estimate. 2/03

Federal Appeals Court to Hear Arguments in Beef Checkoff Case
The Federal 8th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear an appeal of a suit by the WesternOrganization of Resource Councils (WORC) and the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) challenging the constitutionality of the beef checkoff on March 10. 2/03

GM Wheat Won’t Make Dough, Warns Economist
The price of spring wheat could drop by about one-third if a genetically modified (GM) variety is introduced commercially into Montana or North Dakota in the next two to six years, according to an agricultural economist. 2/03 read summary

Coalition Calls for Fairness and Competition in Livestock Markets
A letter signed by 127 organizations describing the dismal condition of today's livestock markets was delivered to members of Congress on January 14, 2003. The letter presents a blueprint for strengthening the vitally important livestock and poultry production sectors.1/14/03 - read letter

Benefits of Country of Origin Labeling Greater Than Costs
Congress adopted a new law earlier this year requiring that fresh meat, fish and produce be labeled by country of origin in grocery stores beginning in September 2004. Last week the United States Department of Agriculture estimated the cost of record-keeping by farmers, ranchers, food processors and retailers needed for the program at $2 billion. In Florida, which has required country of origin labeling for fruits and vegetables for years, the program costs $5 to $10 per store per week - less than one-tenth the cost per store estimated by USDA.

Pork Checkoff Ruled Unconstitutional
Hog farmers are applauding Friday’s ruling by a Federal Judge in Michigan that the mandatory pork checkoff program is unconstitutional and should be terminated within 30 days. This ruling is in response to a lawsuit filed by the Campaign for Family Farms (CFF) claiming that the checkoff was unconstitutional. 10/02

Department of Interior Criticized for Ignoring Public Concern
A Western Citizens' group has criticized the Department of Interior Task Force for engaging mining, oil and gas companies in a one-sided dialogue over bonding requirements, and considering weakening the regulations that protect taxpayers from being forced to pay to clean up contaminated sites. 10/02

GM Crops Devastating to US Farmers
According to a new report published by the British Soil Association, genetically modified soy, corn, and canola has cost the US economy at least $12 billion in farm subsidies, lower crop prices, loss of major export orders and product recalls. 9/02

FarmAid Features Rural Voices
Brad Redlin, a South Dakota farmer, and Helen Waller, a Montana farmer, will be featured panelists at Farm Aid. The annual event is being held on September 21 in Pennsylvania. The theme of the day-long concert is "Challenges and Choices: The Future of Our Food and Farms." Redlin and Waller are members of WORC, the Western Organization of Resource Councils. 9/02

Senate Committee Asked to Restore Fair Markets to Ranchers
Anticompetitive markets have lowered prices to ranchers, compounding the effects of this year’s drought, South Dakota rancher Shane Kolb said in testimony submitted to a United States Senate committee today. Kolb asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to restore competition by supporting two bills to prevent meat packers from manipulating livestock markets. 8/02

Family Farmers Tell Senate Agriculture Committee“VOTE NO” on Dorr Nomination
Opponents to the nomination of Thomas Dorr as Undersecretary of Rural Development called on the Senate Agriculture Committee to vote against confirmation. The committee has scheduled a vote this Thursday. 7/02

WORC Statement on US Court of Appeals Stay of Beef Checkoff Injunction
July 10, the US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit granted a stay of a judge's injunction that would have stopped collection of the $1 fee per head beef checkoff beginning July 15. 7/02

Federal Judge Rules Beef Check Off Unconstitutional
In a victory for independent cattle producers Judge Charles B. Kornmann ruled that the national beef checkoff program is unconstitutional. In conjunction with LMA, WORC was an original plaintiff in the case. 6/02

New Legislation Would Protect Taxpayers
130 years after the passage of the 1872 Mining Law, Reps. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Jay Inslee (D-WA) and others introduced new legislation to provide much needed environmental and fiscal oversight for the hardrock mining industry, the nation's largest toxic polluter. 6/02

WORC Slams Defeat of Amendment to Protect Taxpayers and Public Laws
The U.S. Senate traded away the rights of Americans when it rejected an amendment to a pending trade bill designed to protect US taxpayers and local control, according to the Western Organization of Resource Councils. 6/02

Study Shows Methane Industry Can Afford to Reinject, Treat Coal Bed Methane Wastewater
Despite industry's claims to the contrary, a new study shows that reinjection and water treatment are economically viable disposal options for coal bed methane wastewater based on recent natural gas prices. 5//02

Western Groups Urge Congress to Protect US Market
Citing depressed commodity prices due to record agricultural and food imports into the US, a regional network of farmers, ranchers and consumers has endorsed an amendment to upcoming Fast Track trade legislation that would prevent the dumping of foreign products on the US market at prices below the cost of production. 5/9/02

Family Farmer Express Strong Opposition to 2002 Farm Bill
Family farmers are outraged at the results of the House and Senate farm bill conference agreement. Once again the debate in Washington has ignored the reality facing farmers and their rural communities; record low commodity prices, dwindling farm credit, and continuing loss of family farms. 5/2/02

WORC Applauds Food Labeling, But Raps the Rest of Farm Bill
The Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) commended adoption of country of origin labeling of meat, fish and produce in a compromise Farm Bill, but said the conference committee’s rejection of a ban on ownership of livestock by meat packers was "inexcusable." The group said the bill agreed to by the Conference Committee doesn’t provide long-term food security for the country, or economic security for farmers. 4/26/02

Votes to Ban Packer Ownership -- Again!
WORC Chairman Skip Waters issued the following statement in response to today's US Senate vote to retain the ban on packer ownership of livestock in it's version of the farm bill. 2/12/02

Family Farmers Lobby Senators to Change Farm Bill and
Oppose Thomas Dorr's Nomination
Family farmers representing farm organizations from around the country came together in Washington, DC to demand that the Senate act now to address the needs of America's family farmers and ranchers. 2/02

Senate Vote Bans Packer Ownership of Livestock
The United States Senate took a major step today towards restoring fair and open competition in livestock markets with its adoption of Senator Johnson's amendment prohibiting packer ownership of livestock. 12/01

Farm Groups Warn Congress of Catastrophic Loss of Family Farms
As the inside-the-beltway debate over farm policy hits the floor of the US Senate this week, farmers across the nation are raising serious concerns about the future of families that produce the food in this country. 12/01

Family Farmers Say Senate Ag Bill Falls Short
Circle, Montana, farmer Helen Waller issued the following statement for the Western Organization of Resource Councils in response to yesterday's adoption of a farm bill by the Senate Agriculture Committee. 11/01

WORC Applauds Committee Vote for Country of Origin Labeling
The Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) commended the Senate Agriculture Committee’s adoption of country of origin labeling of meat, fish and produce in its farm bill today, and vowed to win other anti-monopoly measures when the bill goes to the full Senate. 11/01

Survey Shows Farmers Want Trade Policy Reformed
As corporate America intensifies pressure on Congress to pass Fast Track trade promotion authority before the World Trade Organization ministerial adjourns in Doha, Qatar later this week, farmers and ranchers are sending a different message: not so fast with Fast Track. 11/01

Farmers and Ranchers differ from Capital Hill on farm prices, food security
As Congress searches for answers to the lagging rural economy, farm groups today released the results of a comprehensive farm policy survey. 10/01

Concerned Citizens turn out to support new community group
Approximately 100 people from around the region came together on Saturday, October 13th, for the founding convention of Oregon Rural Action (ORA) in La Grande. 10/01

Groups call the mandatory fee "unfair, undemocratic and unconstitutional"
The Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), eight other organizations and 130 independent cattle producers have joined Montana ranchers Steve and Jeanne Charter in their lawsuit against the beef checkoff program. 9/01

Groups to Challenge Constitutionality of Beef Checkoff
The Western Organization of Resource Councils and the Livestock Marketing Association will amend their complaint against the beef checkoff program to challenge the constitutionality of the mandatory assessment on cattle producers. 7/01

Supreme Court Struck Down the Mushroom Checkoff
We applaud the United States Supreme Court's 6-3 decision today in United States vs. United Foods striking down the mushroom checkoff. program. 6/01

Block Dorr to USDA Post
As power shifts in the Senate, momentum is growing for newly empowered Democrats to block their first Bush Administration nomination: Thomas Dorr, Bush’s designee for undersecretary for rural development at the Department of Agriculture. 6/01

Price Reporting Problems Highlight Need for Antitrust Action
The United States Department of Agriculture should use a controversial provision of its new livestock price-reporting program as a guideline for antitrust enforcement, not as an excuse to hide market data, according to an organization of farmers, ranchers and consumers. 6/01

Glickman Leaves Monopoly 'Time Bomb,' Ranchers Say
Outgoing Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman's record was all rhetoric and no action on the most critical problem facing family farms and ranches: the disappearance of open competition in agricultural markets, says a group of farmers, ranchers and consumers. 1/01