Organization for Competitive Market members are backing an amendment they hope to get Senators to vote for in the 2018 farm bill. OCM Executive Director Joe Maxwell says it calls for reform to the checkoff program. He says it would make it more transparent for farmers and ranchers.

He says the average producer is being hurt by not having a solid and transparent checkoff program in place.

Maxwell says they tried to get their amendment in the House farm bill but it got pulled out due to procedure issues with the legislation.

Maxwell says his group has five Senate sponsors for their checkoff reform amendment and expect movement soon on it.