organization for competitive markets

What organization for competitive markets does

Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, membership-based research and advocacy organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Its mission is to expose and challenge corporate consolidation in the U.S. food and agricultural economy, with primary focus on the market power of the 'Big Four' meatpackers (JBS, Tyson, Cargill, National Beef), antitrust enforcement under the Packers and Stockyards Act, Country of Origin Labeling, mega-merger moratoriums, and checkoff program reform. OCM's constituency is family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across at least 13 U.S. states, and its go-to-market is community-led: members pay dues, participate in grassroots campaigns, and engage in annual fly-ins to Washington, D.C.

OCM monetizes through membership dues (structured as recurring subscription-style payments) and donations collected primarily through PayPal, with specific tier pricing not publicly disclosed. The organization operates a multi-channel awareness and advocacy stack, including paid advertising in Politico and Daily Caller, radio buys in targeted Congressional Districts, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube), email newsletters, blog and press release distribution, and an annual in-person Food and Agriculture Conference that rotates locations (most recently the 26th edition in Biloxi, Mississippi, May 2024). OCM also convenes Farm Bill Fly-Ins that have produced 85+ in-person Capitol Hill meetings.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Taylor Haynes, Vice President Mike Schultz, Secretary Marty Irby (who also serves as President of the affiliated 501(c)(4) Competitive Markets Action), and Treasurer Jonathan Buttram, with additional farmer-rancher directors from states including Kansas, California, Alabama, Iowa, and South Dakota. Day-to-day operations are managed by a small staff including Executive Director Fred Stokes (co-founder), Director of Policy and Research Ben Gotschall, and Office Manager Pat Craycraft. A closely affiliated 501(c)(4) entity, Competitive Markets Action (CMA), is based in Washington, D.C. and handles lobbying and political advocacy that a 501(c)(3) cannot perform directly. OCM is engaged in active federal litigation (a beef checkoff transparency suit against USDA) and submitted comments on the Made in USA labeling rule at the FTC. There is no proprietary technology product, no AI/ML capability, no app, and no disclosed revenue.

Name

organization for competitive markets

Legal name

Organization for Competitive Markets

Website

https://competitivemarkets.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1998 in Lincoln, Nebraska that researches and campaigns against corporate consolidation in U.S. food and agricultural markets on behalf of family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, funded by membership dues and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Revenue generated from membership fees paid by farmers, ranchers, and supporters. The organization has various membership categories and fees.
2. Donations: Accepts donations through PayPal and other channels to support advocacy efforts and campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, membership-based research and advocacy organization that campaigns against corporate consolidation in the U.S. food and agricultural economy. It conducts policy research, grassroots mobilization, litigation support, and coalition-building around issues such as Packers and Stockyards Act reform, Country of Origin Labeling, mega-merger moratoriums, checkoff program reform, and opposition to the EATS Act, while raising revenue from membership dues and donations to support its policy and lobbying work.

Product overview

Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is a membership-based research and advocacy organization rather than a product company. It does not offer commercial products or services. OCM's work centers on advocacy campaigns including Packers and Stockyards Act Reform, Country of Origin Labeling, Moratorium on Mega-Mergers, Checkoff Program Reform, opposition to the EATS Act, and the JBS Monopoly Abuse Tracker. The organization conducts policy research, hosts events (including an annual Food and Agriculture Conference), and engages in lobbying and advocacy efforts to promote competitive markets in agriculture for family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OCM Membership Annual membership program for farmers, ranchers, and supporters that funds advocacy, policy research, and grassroots campaigns to fight corporate consolidation in agriculture. Members receive updates, access to events, and participate in collective action on antitrust issues.
• Annual Food and Agriculture Conference and Membership Meeting Paid registration-based annual in-person event convening members, farmers, ranchers, and policy experts for advocacy training, policy discussions, and the annual membership meeting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Led opposition to EATS Act through ad campaigns in Politico, Daily Caller, and radio spots
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Competitive Markets Action (CMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2023CMA is OCM's 501(c)(4) affiliate based in Washington, D.C., formed with the mission of shaping policy to promote competitive markets and defend against attacks on states' rights. CMA works to raise awareness of harm caused by multinational conglomerates to American family farmers, consumers, and the U.S. economy. The two organizations work closely together on campaigns including EATS Act opposition and Farm Bill advocacy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Food & Water Watch: National membership-based advocacy organization tackling corporate control of the food system — directly comparable structure, donor base, and policy focus to OCM.
• National Farmers Union: National membership-based farm advocacy organization representing family farmers and ranchers on policy, antitrust, and market competition issues — directly comparable mission, structure, and constituency to OCM.
• R-CALF USA: Cattle ranchers' trade association focused on antitrust, mandatory country-of-origin labeling, and competition in the beef industry — closely aligned with OCM's cattle-sector antitrust priorities.
• Farm Action: Advocacy organization working to reform the corporate-controlled food and agriculture system, with overlapping focus on antitrust enforcement and breaking up agribusiness concentration.
• Competitive Markets Action: OCM's own 501(c)(4) lobbying affiliate based in Washington, D.C. — sister organization sharing leadership and running parallel policy campaigns on competitive markets and states' rights.
• Center for Rural Affairs: Nonprofit advocacy organization serving rural communities and family farms/ranches on economic justice, antitrust, and competition issues — closely aligned mission and constituency.
• National Family Farm Coalition: Coalition of family-farm and rural groups advocating on farm justice, fair prices, and corporate consolidation — comparable constituency and policy agenda to OCM.
• Western Organization of Resource Councils: Network of grassroots community-based organizations across the Western U.S. advocating on family agriculture, energy, and natural-resource issues — comparable grassroots advocacy model and regional constituency.
• Food Policy Action: Nonprofit advocacy group tracking Congressional votes on food and farm policy — directly comparable advocacy/research focus with overlapping policy coverage on competitive markets and farm justice.

Broad incumbents

• American Farm Bureau Federation: Largest U.S. general farm organization with overlapping advocacy on ag policy and Farm Bill — operates at much larger scale and typically more aligned with conventional agribusiness, providing a broad incumbent reference point for OCM's niche reform agenda.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ocm_tweets
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ocmchannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/CompetitiveMarkets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/organization-for-competitive-markets

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about organization for competitive markets