As trade negotiators meet again this week, livestock and poultry producers both are urging Congress to approve Trade Promotion Authority for the president to move forward with major trade agreements. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president Bob McCan of Texas says TPA is important for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. “The governments of many of our competitors are actively engaged in … Read More
NFU Cites Study That Refutes Canadian COOL Arguments
The National Farmers Union has shared a new study that refutes claims that Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is hurting the Canadian cattle industry. According to the study, authored by Auburn University Alfa Eminent Scholar and Professor C. Robert Taylor, it was “economic downturn” and other factors, not Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), that caused recent decreased demand for cattle imports into … Read More
Canada Cattlemen Comment on COOL
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) attended the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual convention in mid-January as part of its ongoing lobbying efforts related to U.S. mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). The CCA is making sure that U.S. farmers, ranchers and legislators understand that Canada is serious about imposing tariffs on a wide variety of U.S. agriculture and processed … Read More
COOL Coalition Calls for Immediate Action
As part of the COOL Reform Coalition, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has signed onto a letter to Congress asking for immediate action to assure U.S. compliance with international trade obligations. The coalition is comprised of a diverse group of association and companies that represent U.S. food, agriculture and manufacturing industries, each having a great stake in potential trade retaliation. “Canada … Read More
Reaction to Chinese Ban on U.S. Poultry Imports
China this week banned imports of U.S. poultry and eggs following the detection of avian flu in wild birds in the Pacific Northwest. “That’s overkill,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman in reaction. “It’s beyond the pale and we think they should be held to task and I’m hoping our government can convince China that they have over … Read More
Dairy Groups Share Support of US Ag Coalition for Cuba
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) joined other food and agricultural organizations in support of additional changes in U.S. policy to facilitate U.S. dairy exports to Cuba and permit open travel for all Americans to that nation. The dairy organizations are members of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba, … Read More
Dairy Industry Urges Negotiators to Prioritize TPP
The U.S. dairy industry advised top U.S. government agricultural trade negotiators that their efforts on any final Pacific Rim free trade agreement must put access to foreign markets for U.S. dairy farmers and processors first, and avoid pressure from other countries to regionalize all new market access opportunities in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the … Read More
Secretary Vilsack Addresses Animal Ag Topics
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed a number of topics at the 2014 National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention, including the proposed second beef checkoff. The Secretary was asked why he is proposing the additional checkoff to be implemented by the end of next year. “This is about getting more money into the system,” Vilsack said. “If you can get … Read More
COOL Reform Coalition Asks Congress to Repeal Rule
The Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Reform Coalition is asking Congress to repeal the existing U.S. Mandatory COOL rule for muscle cuts of meat. In a letter sent by the group’s 109 stakeholders, the signers say they are gravely concerned about the negative impact the rule will have on the U.S. economy. On October 20, 2014, a World Trade Organization … Read More
Dairy Group wants Japan's Import System Replaced
A group representing American dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers says that Japan’s import system is a “potential Achilles heel” in trade negotiations. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack calling for the replacement of Japan’s current import administration program in the Trans-Pacific Partnership … Read More