News Update
Feb. 23, 2009

Vilsack Announces Implementation of Country-of-Origin Labeling Law

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the final rule for country-of-origin labeling (COOL) will go into effect as scheduled March 16. He also released a letter inviting stakeholders to follow additional voluntary labeling practices. The rule, published in the Federal Register Jan.15, has been under regulatory review by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pursuant to a Jan. 20 memorandum from the President’s Chief of Staff.

“I strongly support country-of-origin labeling; it’s a critical step toward providing consumers with additional information about the origin of their food,” Vilsack said. “The Department of Agriculture will be closely reviewing industry compliance with the rule and will evaluate the practicality of the suggestions for voluntary action in my letter.”

During the regulatory review process, Secretary Vilsack determined that allowing the rule to go into effect and carefully monitoring implementation and compliance by retailers and their suppliers would provide the best avenue to evaluate the program. This evaluation period will inform the Secretary’s consideration of whether additional rulemaking may be necessary to provide consumers with adequate information.

The COOL regulation requires country-of-origin labeling for muscle cuts and ground beef (including veal), pork, lamb, goat and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and ginseng sold by designated retailers. These commodities must be labeled at retail to indicate the country of origin.

The final rule outlines requirements for labeling covered commodities and the recordkeeping requirements for retailers and suppliers. The rule prescribes specific criteria that must be met for a commodity to bear a “United States Country of Origin” declaration. The rule also contains provisions for labeling covered commodities of foreign origin.

For complete information on the COOL statute and regulation, go to www.ams.usda.gov/cool.

— Release provided by USDA News.

NCBA Statement on USDA country-of-origin labeling

Last Friday, Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack released a statement that he has decided to move forward with implementation of country-of-origin labeling under the final rule published in the Federal Register Jan. 15. Below is the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) statement in regards to today’s announcement in addition to the press release from the USDA. 

NCBA Statement: “NCBA is pleased that Secretary Vilsack has decided to implement the final country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rule with no further delays. Markets react poorly to uncertainty, and the confusion over when and how the final COOL rule would be implemented was detrimental to the beef industry. Implementing the final rule as scheduled on March 16, 2009, will make USDA’s implementation and education period more meaningful, and its permanency allows NCBA and our partners throughout the industry to dedicate resources for educating producers, processors, retailers and consumers. NCBA urged legislators and regulators in Washington, D.C., to implement the rule as written so that markets could adjust to the new regulations, and we could begin assessing COOL’s value to the consumer and impact on beef demand.

“We are currently analyzing Secretary Vilsack’s February 20 letter to packers to determine whether it fulfills the agreement that was carefully negotiated in the Farm Bill.”

— Adapted from an NCBA release.

First state rainwater conference slated for Mar. 20-21 in Kerrville

A Texas AgriLife Extension Service rainwater-harvesting expert said the Texas Rainwater Catchment Association will hold its first statewide conference March 20-21 in Kerrville at the Kerr County Hill Country Youth Exhibit Center.

Billy Kniffen, AgriLife Extension water resources specialist at Menard, said the association was formed just over a year ago. The association will use the conference to further its mission of focusing on green-building construction and rainwater application on both commercial and homeowner scales.

“We’ll also be looking at current legislative activity as it relates to rainwater harvesting as well as the Texas Water Development Board and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality perspectives,” Kniffen said.

March 20 activities last from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and are followed by an optional tour of several rainwater catchment projects in the Boerne area (no transportation provided). One of the stops will be Boerne’s new Champion High School, which Kniffen said can capture over 4 million gallons of rainwater per year.

The March 21 program will concentrate on the actual construction of a number of collection systems ranging from a simple rain barrel to rain garden, bog garden, a collection system for wildlife or livestock, a birdbath, drip irrigation system and an in-home system. These demonstrations will begin at 9 a.m.

A trade show featuring a number of commercial exhibits and suppliers of rainwater collection equipment will be a major part of the two-day event.

Kniffen also said a “Professional’s Accreditation Workshop” is scheduled for March 18-19 at the same location. For more information specific to that training go to www.arcsa.org.

Individual fees for the State Rainwater Conference are as follows: March 20 fee is $50 with an additional $10 added for those going on the Boerne tour. The March 21 fee is $5. Both days are free for children under 16 years old. Find registration information at www.texrca.org.

For more information contact Kniffen at 325-396-4787, 325-456-5772 or b-kniffen@tamu.edu.

— Release provided by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

More OSU Extension Farm Bill Meetings Planned

From payment limitations to adjusted gross income to the new farm support programs, farmers, agricultural businesses and others in the industry will learn more about the details of the 2008 Farm Bill through an Ohio State University (OSU) Extension educational meeting.

The meeting, hosted by OSU Extension of Erie, Huron and Lorain counties, will take place March 5 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Bronson-Norwalk Conservation Club, 295 Townline Rd. 151, Norwalk. The USDA and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is also sponsoring the event.

Chris Bruynis, an OSU Extension educator, and Diana Strouse and John Varner, both of the Farm Service Agency (FSA), will provide information on Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) and Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE). They will also answer questions regarding payment limits and adjusted gross income provisions of the Farm Bill.

The meeting is free, but RSVPs are encouraged. Call 419-627-7631 or 419-668-4113.

— Release provided by OSU Extension.

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.