| McLeod, Watkinson & Miller offers unparalleled breadth and depth in its representation of agriculture and the food industry. Our clients include producers, processors, input suppliers and food manufacturers. We have specialized in building bridges between producers and their customers so that through cooperation and unity, agricultural industries can increase their effectiveness on Capitol Hill and at federal agencies.
We represent both individual companies and trade associations. Thus, we can focus on the particular business interests of a single company, or on the broad, industry-wide concerns that constitute the business of a trade association.
As part of our practice in representing trade associations, we offer complete flexibility to meet an association's present and future needs. In some cases, we provide added value to trade associations that have their own management and personnel, but seek our assistance in lobbying and other government relations activities. Sometimes we are engaged for temporary projects, such as legislative drafting, that complement the efforts of associations that already have well-qualified lobbyists but benefit from legal expertise. Of course, these projects can be as confidential as the client's needs dictate.
In other cases, we offer a turnkey service to trade associations, operating and managing trade associations, providing all member services from lobbying and meeting planning to payroll and administration. We make use of the latest technology in serving our association and individual clients, operating several web sites for various groups, offering secure, members-only features. We also maintain both our firm's website and www.agriculturelaw.com, which offers a wide range of free agricultural policy information and news.
Because our firm includes Republicans, Democrats and independents, we are able to work with Congress regardless of which party is in control. Because our attorneys and lobbyists have previous experience in the House, the Senate and the executive branch, we can lead efforts to advance our clients' agendas not only on both sides of Capitol Hill, but at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the White House and other parts of the Administration.
Just a few of the clients we have successfully assisted in achieving their legislative and regulatory objectives are the following:
- American Association of Crop Insurers
- American Mushroom Institute
- American Peanut Product Manufacturers, Inc.
- California Avocado Commission
- Chicago Board of Trade
- Sweetener Users Association
- United Egg Association (Further Processors Division)
- United Egg Producers
- Western Peanut Growers Association
We are also the nation's leading firm in helping to establish and operate commodity research and promotion programs. We have been largely responsible for the evolution and growth of this field of law, and we have secured the enactment and implementation of far more promotion programs than any other firm. We have a 100% success rate in getting legislation enacted to authorize commodity check-off programs. Since 1980, we have assisted several industries to develop, enact and implement the following commodity promotion programs:
- American Egg Board
- Cattlemen's Beef Research & Promotion Board
- Hass Avocado Board
- Mushroom Council
- National Dairy Promotion & Research Board
- National Peanut Board
- National Processor Advertising & Promotion Board for Fluid Milk
- Popcorn Board
- PromoFlor Council
- United Soybean Board
We continue to serve as counsel to more than half of the federal check-off programs in place today.
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