OCM praises Marshall for dropping support for bacon bill

The Organization for Competitive Markets says Sen. Roger Marshall withdrew support for the Save Our Bacon Act, a move the group says backs Kansas farmers and independent pork producers. The group argues the bill would have favored a foreign-linked corporate player in U.S. pork and threatened market access for producers who already upgraded their housing systems. Why it matters: - The dispute centers on who controls access to major pork markets and whether federal policy should favor independent producers or large corporate operators. - OCM says Kansas farmers have already made costly upgrades to meet changing consumer expectations and keep market access. - The group argues the policy fight affects whether American agriculture stays in the hands of U.S. farmers or expands foreign-linked influence. What happened: - OCM praised Sen. Roger Marshall for withdrawing support for the so-called Save Our Bacon Act. - The group said Marshall is standing with Kansas farmers, ranchers and independent producers. - The announcement framed Marshall’s move as support for rural Kansans and opposition to a China-backed pork policy. The details: - Mike Schultz, founder of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association and vice president of OCM, said western Kansas farmers were proud of Marshall for listening to producers. - Schultz said farmers have upgraded their sow housing systems. - Schultz said those upgrades help preserve access to California’s humane pork market. - Schultz also said a company already controls more than a quarter of U.S. pork production. - Schultz said the Save Our Bacon Act would be used to increase that company’s share of the domestic market. - OCM said independent farmers deserve policies that expand opportunities rather than protect multinational corporations with ties to foreign adversaries. Between the lines: - The statement casts the bill as a market-power issue, not just an animal-welfare or labeling fight. - OCM is using Marshall’s reversal to press a broader message about antitrust concerns, foreign ownership and producer independence. - The group is also signaling support for state market requirements that reward existing producer investments. What’s next: - OCM said it will keep pushing to protect independent producers and fair competition. - The group said it wants American agriculture to remain under U.S. farmer control rather than foreign-owned conglomerates. - The outcome now depends on whether lawmakers advance or abandon the legislation and how pork producers respond to market demands.