Glickman Refuses to Announce Referendum Results

CONTACT: Paul Sobocinski, Minnesota hog farmer, 507-342-2323
Jim Joens, Minnesota hog farmer, 507-926-5957
Land Stewardship Project office 612-722-6377

1/4/01
Hog farmers and the Campaign for Family Farms learned today that Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman is refusing to announce the results of the pork checkoff referendum at this time, even though USDA has known the results of the vote since Christmas. On Dec. 20, the USDA committed to announce the results of the pork checkoff referendum during the first week of January and reconfirmed that commitment as recently as Jan. 3.

“We want Glickman to announce the results today, and to abide by the producers’ vote. If farmers voted to end the checkoff, Glickman should begin termination procedures now as provided in the rules,” said Jim Joens, a Wilmont, Minn., hog farmer and member of the Land Stewardship Project (LSP), speaking on behalf of the Campaign for Family Farms.

LSP is a founding member of the Campaign for Family Farms, which led the petition drive in which 19,000 hog producers called for a vote to end the mandatory pork checkoff. Thirty thousand producers participated in the checkoff voting, which ended Sept. 21. The ballots were counted on Nov. 29. According to the published rules of the referendum, the mandatory checkoff will be terminated if a majority of hog farmers voting chose to end it.

“There is absolutely no reason to delay the announcement of this vote,” said Joens. “Hog farmers exercised their democratic right to have this vote to end the mandatory pork checkoff. The USDA and NPPC should stop trying to stand in the way of that.”

“Based on the overwhelming number of hog farmers who contacted us during the voting period, we are confident that hog farmers have voted down the mandatory pork checkoff,” said Wabasso, Minn., hog farmer Paul Sobocinski, a member of LSP and the Campaign for Family Farms. “Why these delays? Secretary Glickman needs to announce the results and honor the mandate of America’s hog farmers. No more delays and no backroom deals. Announce the results now.”

The Campaign for Family Farms urges hog farmers to call Secretary Glickman at 202-720-3631 and tell him to announce the referendum results immediately.

To read more about the Pork Checkoff Vote, see these releated press releases:

April 10, 2001: Statement regarding NPPC's attempt to curtail opposition to pork tax
April 3, 2001: Farmers stand up for democracy, protest pork tax
March 27, 2001: Facts about the Pork Checkoff Vote
February 20, 2001: Hog Farmers Call on Veneman to Stop Delaying Pork Checkoff Termination
January 31, 2001: Hog Farmers Attack Proposed New Mandatory Pork Tax
January 11, 2001: Hog Farmers End Mandatory Pork Checkoff
January 4, 2001: Glickman Refuses to Announce Referendum Results
December 1, 2000: Hog farmers monitor counting of pork checkoff votes
September 19, 2000: Campaign for Family Farms Urges Hog Farmers to vote NO on Checkoff Referendum
August 10, 2000: The heat is on Ag Secretary to overturn biased decision on pork checkoff referendum
August 2, 2000: NPPC Attempts to Rig Pork Checkoff Vote
June 1, 2000: The Real Story: Hog Farmers Win Right to Vote Fair and Square

Glickman Refuses to Announce Referendum Results

Hog Farmers Demand That Secretary Make Announcement