NFU: Respect Consumers Wishes, Label Meat with COOL

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, COOL, International, legislation

A new study shows that American consumers prefer meat raised in the U.S., and the National Farmers Union says Congress should respect consumers’ rights to know and reject efforts to repeal Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL). “Opponents of COOL have argued that it has no impact on consumers’ purchasing decisions,” said Johnson. “This study clearly shows the opposite: that consumers use COOL … Read More

House Bans Brazilian, Argentine Beef While FMD Evaluated

John DavisAgribusiness, Beef, Government, legislation

A U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee approved an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill that would ban the importation of Brazilian and Argentine Beef until the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) evaluates the potential risk of foot and mouth disease to the U.S. cattle industry caused by these imports. This news release from Congressman Kevin Cramer says the … Read More

NFU Happy GIPSA Defunding Rider Excluded

John DavisAg Group, legislation, NFU

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has passed a spending bill without a rider prohibiting funding for the implementation of regulations ensuring fairness in marketing for the nation’s family farmers and ranchers. The move won the praise of National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson. “It’s wonderful that after all of these years, key regulations overseen by the Grain Inspection, Packers … Read More

Groups File Lawsuit To Vacate ‘WOTUS’ Rule

John DavisAFBF, Ag Group, Agribusiness, Beef, Cattle, Government, legislation, NCBA, NPPC, PLC, Pork

More than a dozen farm groups have joined together to file a lawsuit to vacate a new Clean Water Act (CWA) regulation, better known as the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule. The National Pork Producers Council says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have overstepped their bounds with the rule with an … Read More

MO Supreme Court Upholds Farming Rights Amendment

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, Government, legislation

The Supreme Court of Missouri has held the election results on the 2014 “Farming Rights Amendment” as valid, calling the ballot title “sufficient and fair, and so there was no election irregularity.” The decision was welcomed by Missouri Cattlemen’s Association President (MCA) Janet Akers. “This decision was no surprise to me or to this association. The Farming Rights Amendment (Amendment … Read More

Ranking Member Releases Proposal on COOL

Jamie JohansenAg Group, COOL, Government, legislation

In advance of tomorrow’s hearing, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow – ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry – released a draft proposal that offers a pathway forward on country-of-origin labeling (COOL) in the wake of the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling. “This approach is a pathway to finding a solution on country of origin … Read More

Senators Introduce WOTUS Rewrite Bill

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, environment, Government, legislation, Water

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced a bill Thursday that calls on EPA to develop a new “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) proposal. The senators, including John Barrasso (R-WY), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), jointly introduced the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, directing EPA and the U.S. … Read More

Dairy Group Supports Food Labeling Act

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, Dairy, legislation

A piece of legislation that is touted as being able to create a national, science-based labeling standard for foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has won praise from a dairy group. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is welcoming the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and … Read More

Cattlemen Back House Efforts to Repeal Death Tax

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, Government, legislation, NCBA

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is backing efforts to repeal the death tax. NCBA members went in front of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee hearing on the Burden of the Estate Tax on Family Businesses and Farms. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association member and seventh-generation cattleman from Fort Davis, Texas, Bobby McKnight testified before the subcommittee on … Read More

Congress Passes Key Tax Extenders Legislation

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Beef, Government, legislation

The U.S. Senate voted 76 to 16 to pass a tax extenders package that holds key provisions for small businesses such as section 179 expensing and bonus depreciation. The tax extenders package was previously approved in the U.S. House of Representatives and now heads to the White House for approval. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Bob McCan said this is … Read More