Colin Woodall, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs, gave updates on hot issues facing the beef industry at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talk. He encourages all producers to step up and stay engaged with the political process. Topics discussed include Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), Water of the U.S. (WOTUS) and the most … Read More
Future of Ag Wants Feds to Ditch the Rule
Producers who will be the future of agriculture are telling the federal government to keep an unpopular water rule from having a future of its own. This news release from Farm Bureau says the group’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee wants the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers to ditch the proposed Waters of the U.S. … Read More
Canadian Company Expands Cheesemaking in Wisconsin
A Canada-based company will expand its cheesemaking operation in Wisconsin. This Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) news release says Agropur Inc. will invest more than $55 million in its Weyauwega, Wisconsin, facility to increase its Feta cheese production capacity, expected to be completed in 2016. “There is a lot of tradition, skill, and work ethic among our employees, and we … 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
Family-Owned Wisconsin Cheesemaker to Expand Ops
A family-owned cheesemaker in Wisconsin is expanding and modernizing its operations. This news release from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) says Baker Cheese Factory, a fourth-generation company that is nearly a century old, is investing $7 million in new equipment that will make the company more efficient and enable it to produce additional products. “Wisconsin is the number one … Read More
Dairy Margin Protection Program Deadline Extended
Dairy producers will have a little more time to enroll in a program that bridges the possible financial gaps when milk prices drop below production costs. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the extension to Dec. 5, 2014 for farmers to sign up for the Dairy Margin Protection Program during his speech at the National Milk Producers Federation annual meeting. … Read More
Feds Told Don't Drown Land Owners in Regulatory Flood
Two groups that represent the interests of a large portion of rural land owners and users has a message for the federal government: Don’t drown land owners in a regulatory flood! The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council filed comments calling for the immediate withdrawal of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers’ … Read More
New American Lamb Board Members Appointed
Tammy Doughty, David Quam and Elizabeth Dressler have been appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to serve on the American Lamb Board. Each appointee will serve a three-year term, effective January 2015. The Board is composed of six producers, three feeders, one seedstock producer and three first handlers. The Secretary of Agriculture appoints one third of all board … Read More
WTO Decision Rules Against COOL
The United States’ Country of Origin labeling (COOL) is still not cool with the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the compliance panel report released today, the WTO found that “the amended COOL measure violates Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement because it accords to Canadian and Mexican livestock less favourable treatment than that accorded to like US livestock.” In particular, … Read More
Five Nations Beef Alliance Statement on TPP
The Five Nations Beef Alliance* concluded a successful meeting and tour in south Texas last week, capped by the unanimous endorsement of a public statement calling for all Trans-Pacific Partnership nations to support ‘gold standard outcomes’ for beef that do not sacrifice important reforms for political expediency. The annual meeting, hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, unites beef industry … Read More