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NFU Letter to Canadian Government on COOL

February 9, 2015 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The National Farmers Union isn’t just advocating in Washington, D.C. on the important issue of Country of Origin Labeling – NFU President Roger Johnson is speaking truth to power in Ottawa, seat of the Canadian national government.

Gerry Ritz, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, recently made a trip to Washington with representatives of Canada’s industrial agriculture community. (AKA some of the foreign organizations that want to kill COOL.) President Johnson sent Minister Ritz the letter below. It’s an outstanding overview of the recent study out of Auburn University that demonstrated that COOL has not harmed Canada’s ag economy.

COOL remains an important rule which allows U.S. consumers to know where there food originates. It’s about transparency and choice in a world where not all food is grown and processed under equal health and safety standards.

Read the Letter

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: COOL

NFU releases new data showing Canadian claims regarding Country of Origin Labeling bogus

January 26, 2015 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from the National Farmers Union

nfulogo-postContrary to arguments made by America’s trade competitors to the World Trade Organization (WTO), an economic downturn that sapped consumer demand — not Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) — caused decreased demand for cattle imports into to the U.S., according to a new study released last week.

“COOL did not cause the declines in livestock exports to the United States, which largely coincided with a substantial global economic downturn that sapped demand for more expensive meat products,” notes the study, authored by C. Robert Taylor, Ph.D., an Auburn University Alfa Eminent Scholar and Professor.

Canada and Mexico challenged COOL provisions related to muscle cuts of beef at the WTO in 2008, alleging the widely popular labeling law was a trade barrier that compromised their export opportunities and market access to the United States for live cattle and hogs. The cost of implementing COOL, they argued, discouraged U.S. meatpacking and processing companies from purchasing livestock of non-U.S. origin and, as a result, reduced the prices of these livestock exports.

But after close examination of more robust data sources to assess the impact of COOL on market access, the study found:

  • COOL has not had a significant negative effect on the price paid for imported slaughter cattle relative to comparable domestic cattle. In fact, the fed cattle price basis declined after the law went into effect. “The price basis is lower in the six years since implementation of COOL than it was the preceding four years,” the study notes;
  • COOL did not negatively impact imports of slaughter cattle. “Qualitative and econometric analysis of Mandatory Price Reporting (MPR) and monthly trade and price data cast considerable doubt on assertions that COOL negatively affected imports of slaughter cattle,” says the study. Failure to recognize the effects of imported and domestic captive supplies of slaughter cattle and beef demand uncertainty, along with other factors, played a larger role in reduced import demand than acknowledged in previous studies.
  • COOL did not significantly affect imports of feeder cattle. “USDA monthly data on imports of 400-700 lb. cattle did not show COOL having a significant negative effect of imports of feeder cattle from either Canada or Mexico relative to placements in U.S. feedlots,” the study points out.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: C. Robert Taylor, Canada, COOL, Country of Origin Labeling, study, World Trade Organization, WTO

NFU Blasts Anti-Family Farmer Language Snuck Into Federal Appropriations Bill

December 10, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

nfunr2National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson and United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) President Danni Beer today sent a letter to the House and Senate leaders strongly objecting to three anti-family farmer and rancher provisions slipped into the 2015 Appropriations Act in the dark of the night, without a single congressional hearing or an ounce of public discussion.

“NFU and USCA are very concerned that the report language included on Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) could be used as an opportunity to stop the appeals process at the World Trade Organization or re-open the legislation that mandated COOL, both of which are unacceptable,” notes the letter. “Congress should not intervene in the WTO process.”

Formally known as Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, the bills are being considered before both the House and the Senate this week. The joint letter points out that also hid inside the Act is a provision that orders the Secretary of Agriculture to refrain from implementing a reformed beef checkoff program, with the irony that the closing period on public comments for the beef checkoff is today.

“National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is so fearful of losing its $40 million-plus revenue stream through the beef checkoff that it has lobbied for this language to be included in the report rather than allowing producers the ability to have their comments recognized and addressed through the commenting process. NCBA has lobbied Congress on a mandatory producer checkoff program that they control,” notes the letter.

Also contained in the proposed Act is a legislative provision that prohibits the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) from implementing regulations on the livestock and poultry industry that would address an array of fraudulent, deceptive, anti-competitive and retaliatory practices.

The letter points out that gutting the GIPSA law “would deny farmers protection from retaliation when they use their first amendment rights to speak with congressional representatives, deny them the right to a jury trial, and deny them the right to request information on how their pay is calculated. This provision is unconscionable.  Its inclusion in a funding bill is unacceptable to NFU’s and USCA’s members.”

“We strongly object to the use of the appropriations process as a mechanism to limit the secretary’s authority to uphold the COOL law, to respond to the dire need for reform of the beef checkoff, and to address anti-competitive market concerns.”

Read the letters in their entirety here.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Appropriations, COOL, Country of Origin Labeling, GIPSA

U.S. Will Appeal WTO Ruling on Country of Origin Labeling

November 29, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from the National Farmers Union

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson applauded today’s decision by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to appeal the recent World Trade Organization ruling on Country-of-Origin Labeling for family farmers, ranchers, and consumers. Johnson also urged Congress to leave the popular labeling law alone and allow the WTO process to run its course.

“The decision today by the USTR to appeal the WTO ruling on COOL is the right thing to do for American family farmers, ranchers and consumers,” said Johnson. “The October WTO ruling found once again that the COOL law is WTO-compliant and acknowledged that the May 2013 USDA regulations were a significant improvement in terms of providing more accurate information to consumers. Nonetheless, the WTO incorrectly found the rules were noncompliant and an appeal is the obvious course of action.”

Johnson noted that the popular sentiment towards the labeling law shared by family farmers and consumers is not echoed by large international meatpackers, who continually try to pressure Congress to repeal the law.

“The multinational meatpacking industry continues to urge Congress to repeal COOL laws before the WTO process runs its course,” said Johnson. “These are inappropriate attempts to prevent consumers from having access to basic information about their food. Congress should ignore these scare tactics and allow the WTO process to play out before acting prematurely.”

“American consumers have been crystal clear that they want to know where their food comes from and family farmers and ranchers are proud to provide it,” said Johnson. “The decision by the USTR to appeal the WTO’s erroneous finding demonstrates full support for American family farmers, ranchers and consumers.”

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: COOL, Country of Origin Labeling

Thankful for COOL on Thanksgiving … For Now – It’s Under Threat

November 26, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The following is an op-ed submitted to Ohio newspapers for the Thanksgiving holiday.

by Warren Taylor and Joe Logan

As American families prepare their Thanksgiving turkeys, they should thank local livestock farmers producing beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and dairy products. Unfortunately, politicians, lobbyists and trade negotiators in DC are working against those farmers. Shockingly, in our great country, which celebrates independent farmers and ranchers, America’s largest pork processor is Shuanghui International Holdings, a Chinese corporation. Our second largest beef company, JBS USA is a Brazilian corporation. These trans-national corporate giants show the extent of consolidation, and how globalization has played out.

These huge businesses find it profitable to shop global markets for low cost meat cuts that end up for sale in American supermarkets. Their profits soar higher as they avoid labeling the meat’s source.  Customers trust American farmers and regulators to provide safe, healthy food products. Not necessarily so for Chinese or Brazilian meat.

Naturally, these meat packers oppose requirements to label the sources of meats. Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL) is that law. Although passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in 2002, foreign and trans-national food corporations have prevented implementation, and now look to repeal COOL.

It’s disappointing that they have found powerful allies in the Beef and Pork promotion organizations authorized by Congress and mostly funded by American farmers and ranchers. The National Cattlemens Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) are adamant opponents of COOL. The very livestock promotion organizations who should speak for American farmers and ranchers are working against their interests and the interests of 90% of American consumers seeking honest information about how and where their food is produced.

Impossible? Most other industrial agriculture nations require Country Of Origin Labeling for food. The American Meat Institute, The National Grocers Association, McDonalds and others shamelessly interested in sourcing the cheapest food possible, have assaulted America’s COOL laws. After passage in the 2002 Farm Bill and surviving four Federal Court suits, COOL is facing repeated World Trade Organization (WTO) challenges.

It’s bad enough when American business interests used money and influence to get their way in Washington DC, now it is multinational corporations’ agenda lobbying against COOL, clearly against America’s farmers’ best interests.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: COOL, Country of Origin Labeling, JBS, Joe Logan, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Shuanghui, Thanksgiving, Warren Taylor

NFU Says Congress Shouldn’t Bow to Scare Tactics on COOL

November 1, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson today urged Congress to ignore a recent letter signed by groups who are using scare tactics to derail Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), a law popular with both consumers and family farmers alike.

“This letter was organized by groups who have opposed COOL from day one and demonstrates that they understand they have lost the battle over this issue in the public arena,” said Johnson. “We urge Congress to ignore the overblown rhetoric of the letter and stay the course on COOL,” he said.

The letter comes on the heels of a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that the implementation of the law remains unbalanced between consumer information and production costs and will need further changes. “The WTO has already ruled that the COOL law is compliant and this ruling shows that USDA’s current rule is one more step in the right direction, but may not have gone far enough in providing sufficient information to consumers,” he said. Johnson noted that talk of retaliation is premature and the WTO process required to even consider such actions would likely be a year from concluding. “There is simply no rush to take rash action,” he said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Congress, COOL, WTO

COOL Wins Fourth Court Victory

November 1, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

NFU to Multinational Meat Industry: Stop the Senseless Litigation

The following statement was issued by National Farmers Unions President Roger Johnson in response to the denial by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to the petition submitted by the multinational meat packers for a rehearing and supplemental relief on its challenge to enforcement of Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL).

“Yet again, the U.S. courts have sided with consumers, farmers and their allies and have upheld the enforcement of COOL. This is now the fourth time that COOL has won in court.

“COOL became the law of the land because consumers want to know where their food comes from and ranchers and farmers are happy to provide that information. Congress understood this basic need and passed this common-sense law.  We urge the multinational meat industry to drop the senseless litigation and allow the law to be enforced.”

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: COOL, Roger Johnson

NFU: WTO’s Ruling Shows USDA Headed in Right Direction

October 24, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson said that the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) recent ruling on Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) clearly shows U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is headed in right direction.

“This ruling demonstrates the legitimate nature of the COOL objective and finds that the current labeling rule is an improvement over the original rule, but it remains unbalanced between consumer information and production costs,” said Johnson. “This decision, as it has been issued, will likely be modified on appeal and NFU strongly urges USTR to appeal the ruling.”

Johnson moderated the panel discussion, and was also joined Danni Beer, president of U.S. Cattleman’s Association, Patrick Woodall, research director at Food & Water Watch, and Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, to discuss the details and implications of the WTO ruling.

On Monday, the WTO released the long-awaited, 200-plus page ruling that found the regulatory goal of COOL was WTO-compliant, and that the new 2013 labels provided better, more accurate information for consumers.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: COOL, NFU, WTO

Johnson Makes the Argument in Favor of COOL to Capitol Hill newspaper

August 5, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

NFU President Roger Johnson is the author of a guest op-ed which ran in The Hill a Washington, D.C. newspaper and website which covers Congress. Click the link below to read Johnson’s argument in favor of COOL.

Consumers have a right to know where their food comes from

From the National Farmers Union News Release on the Piece:

“Nobody seemed to care where their pet treats came from until dogs started dropping dead from eating tainted food from China,” notes Johnson.   “When it was all over, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had received 5,600 complaints from consumers about their pets getting sick and, sadly, about 1,000 of them perished.”

Johnson points out that, thankfully, Congress understood that consumers have a right to know where their pet food, and their own food, comes from, and in 2008 passed a law known as COOL. “In short, COOL says that muscle cuts of meat, and some fruits and vegetables, must be labeled with the country’s name where it was produced.”

COOL doesn’t restrict imports; it simply gives grocery shoppers information to make purchasing decisions that are right for their families.  “If a family prefers Vietnamese catfish or Mexican meatloaf, there will be available options.  If not, the family can choose locally grown U.S. alternatives,” he notes.

A May 2013 public opinion poll showed more than 90 percent of consumers support COOL.  Johnson notes just last week “consumer advocates prevailed when the District Court of Appeals handed multinational meat packers a stinging defeat.  By a 9 to 2 majority, the panel upheld an earlier court ruling to deny a request to halt enforcement of the law.”

Foreign countries and their big business partners are also pushing international courts at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to intervene.  “The same WTO that helped facilitate lopsided trade deals and outsource U.S. manufacturing jobs will soon rule on what information U.S. grocery shoppers can receive,” he notes.

“Simultaneously, powerful lobbying groups are bankrolling efforts to ‘reform’ COOL in Congress, and by reform, they mean gut it.  Instead of ‘Born, Raised and Harvested in the U.S.,’ they’re pushing for ‘Made in North America’ labels so consumers can’t differentiate between products of Mexico, Canada or the United States.”

“What’s next?” he asks. “Made on Earth labels?”

“America has the safest, best homegrown food supply in the world.  Let’s be proud, not ashamed, of that accomplishment,” he concludes.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: COOL, Roger Johnson, The Hill

Reminder: COOL Webinar July 22 – It’s free, so sign up!

July 18, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Country of Origin Labeling was passed by Congress in 2002 and it’s still under attack by the multinational meat packers and allied agribusinesses. Learn more about the law, who is behind trying to take away your right to know where your food comes from – and what you can do about it.

Click this link for all of the info and to register for this one-hour online program.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Coalition for a Prosperous America, COOL, webinar

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