News Update
October 21, 2014
Statement by NCBA President Bob McCan on WTO U.S. COOL Decision
Statement by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Bob McCan, Victoria, Texas, cattleman regarding the public announcement by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rule:
“The announcement today (Oct. 20) by the WTO dispute panel on the U.S. country-of-origin labeling rule brings us all one step closer to facing retaliatory tariffs from two of our largest trading partners. Our producers have already suffered discounts and faced the closure of a number of feedlots and packing plants due to the effects of this shortsighted regulation. COOL is a failed program that will soon cost not only the beef industry, but the entire U.S. economy, with no corresponding benefit to consumers or producers.
“NCBA has maintained that there is no regulatory fix to bring the COOL rule into compliance with our WTO obligations or that will satisfy our top trading partners. We look forward to working with Congress to find a permanent solution to this issue, avoiding retaliation against not only beef, but a host of U.S. products.”
Canada’s list of products for possible trade retaliation can be found here. Mexico has yet to release their list of targeted products.
NFU Says USDA Can Make Any Necessary Changes Necessary to Bring COOL into Compliance with Today’s Mixed WTO Ruling
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson said that Oct. 20’s ruling by the WTO on COOL can be handled by the USDA, and reminded lawmakers of the strong support by the public and in rural America for the labeling law.
“American consumers want to know where their food comes from, and America’s family farmers and ranchers are proud to provide that information,” said Johnson. “Nothing about today’s ruling changes that rudimentary fact.”
This most recent challenge to COOL, filed by Canada and Mexico, challenges the final rule put forward by the USDA and comes on the heels of an earlier WTO ruling that found the United States has the right to require labeling of meat products, but found fault with how the rule was implemented.
“Under the guidance of USDA, any changes to COOL to ensure full compliance with today’s decision should be able to be made administratively, while maintaining the integrity of COOL labels,” said Johnson.
A May 2013 public opinion poll found that more than 90% of consumers support COOL, and feelings for the labeling law are equally strong in rural America. “We are confident that given that level of support, Congress will reject all heavy-handed attempts to make legislative changes to this important labeling law,” said Johnson.
Since its passage in 2002, COOL has been under constant attack both domestically by the U.S. meat industry and internationally. On each domestic occasion, the rulings have come down in support of COOL.
This recent ruling will likely take many months to resolve, since it will undoubtedly be appealed, and the WTO process is slow moving. Just as NFU has played an active role in legally defending this rule in U.S. courts — and has so far won every legal ruling in court — NFU will also work with USDA and U.S. Trade Representatives to see that WTO rights are protected and that the United States will comply with any final WTO decisions. Now is not the time to change the law. It is the time to see the WTO process through to an ultimate conclusion.
ASA Responds as WTO Issues COOL Ruling;
Calls on USDA to Suspend COOL Rule
In response to this Oct. 20 ruling from the WTO that finds the United States’ implementation of mandatory COOL for imported meat to be noncompliant with WTO rules, American Soybean Association (ASA) President Ray Gaesser of Corning, Iowa, has released the following statement:
“This morning’s decision from the WTO only solidifies what we in the industry already knew to be true: that mandatory country-of-origin labeling in its current state is an unworkable burden on soybean farmers’ largest customers — the animal agriculture industry.
“What’s worse is that the fallout from this rule following the finding of noncompliance by WTO will include a system of retaliatory tariffs by Canada and Mexico that will, at the very least, harm our partners in the animal agriculture industry.
“As producers of the nation’s leading farm export, we have a huge stake in ensuring that our trading relationships are robust and mutually beneficial. In the case of COOL, it is incumbent on us to ensure that our own nation’s policies are conducive to that goal. As part of the COOL Reform Coalition, we continue to urge Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to suspend the COOL rule indefinitely to avert a potential economic disaster not only for the American livestock industry, but also for those sectors like ours that depend so greatly on animal agriculture.”
Jim Gerrish to be Featured Forage Speaker
at 2014 Missouri Livestock Symposium
Forage production and animal management are key components to profitability in many livestock operations. According to Garry Mathes, chair of the 2014 Missouri Livestock Symposium, producers have benefited from an outstanding year in forage production coupled with high livestock prices, and there hasn’t been a better time to invest in cost-effective improvements and plan for the future.
“As a result, our planning committee wanted to address topics aimed at helping producers make smart investments and explore opportunities for the future,” Mathes said. In order to accomplish this objective, a great lineup of nationally acclaimed speakers will be on hand to address these topics and answer questions.
The Missouri Livestock Symposium welcomes back the featured forages expert Jim Gerrish from Patterson, Idaho. Gerrish will address four topics in the forages section including: “From Row Crops to Grass Farming,” “When Should You Be Calving,” “Making Cost-effective Pasture Improvements” and “Why You Should Be Out of the Haying Business.”
Gerrish’s experience includes more than 20 years as a researcher at the University of Missouri (MU) Forage Systems Research Center in Linneus, Mo., where he cofounded the popular grazing school model still used to educate producers today. Gerrish has authored two very popular forage management books, Management Intensive Grazing and Kick the Hay Habit. Gerrish currently dedicates his time operating a private consulting business, American GrazingLands Services LLC, where his focus is to aid farmers and ranchers to more effectively manage their grazing lands for economic and environmental sustainability.
Also speaking in the forages section will be Mark Kennedy, retired Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state grazing lands specialist, addressing the topics of “Extending the Grazing Season” and “Multispecies Grazing-Opportunities and Pitfalls.”
Mathes notes that in addition to the forage programs, there is a full lineup of nationally acclaimed speakers on beef cattle, sheep, meat goats, stock dogs, farm succession, backyard poultry and beekeeping. The symposium also features a free trade show and two free meals — a beef supper on Friday evening at 6 p.m. and a Governor’s Style Luncheon on Saturday at noon.
The symposium will run from 4-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, and from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. The event will be hosted at Kirksville’s William Mathew Middle School, 1515 S. Cottage Grove in Kirksville, Mo. No preregistration is needed and there is no cost to attend.
Additional details about speakers, topics, lodging, meals, trade show and more can be found at the Missouri Livestock Symposium website at www.missourilivestock.com or call Garry Mathes at 660-341-6625, the Adair County Extension Center at 660-665-9866 or you can also email Zac Erwin at erwinz@missouri.edu. Please put MLS in the subject line.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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