The National Farmers Union (NFU) doesn’t understand the House Appropriations Committee’s passage of amendment designed to further stall the Grain Inspection and Stockyards Protection Administration (GIPSA) rule after Congress let the USDA implement a provision included in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide needed marketplace protections to contract farmers. “The idea that the House Appropriations Committee would ignore the progress … Read More
Coalition Urges FSIS to Adopt Grassfed Label Standard
A coalition of nine agricultural and consumer organizations sent the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) a letter this week that urges the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to reinstate a meaningful grassfed label for meat. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) had overseen a voluntary label program for grassfed livestock products since 2007, but that standard was withdrawn in January. … Read More
NFU Pleased by Support for Finalizing GIPSA Rule
National Farmers Union applauds actions stated in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack. Eight legislators reiterated their support to move forward with implementation of the Grain Inspection and Stockyards Protection Administration (GIPSA) rule. “Producers and consumers alike benefit from competitive and transparent markets… Deceptive, fraudulent, retaliatory, and anti-competitive practices have no place in a well-functioning … Read More
COOL Retaliation – WTO Sets $1.01B in Tariffs
We anticipated this and now it’s here. The World Trade Organization (WTO) announced $1.01 billion retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods authorized in the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) with Canada and Mexico. The WTO has upheld multiple times our neighboring country’s claim that the label creates an unfair advantage to U.S. products. U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee … Read More
NFU Opposes Namibian Beef Imports
Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union (NFU), has urged the Obama administration to oppose a proposed rule that would make Namibia eligible to export meat to the United States. The opposition is due to a recent outbreak of Foot-And-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Southern African nation. “The fear over FMD is warranted,” said Johnson in comments submitted to … Read More
NFU Supports Voluntary COOL
Earlier this week dairy industry organizations sent a letter to Senate on Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), offering Voluntary COOL as the best option available. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response: “The Hoeven-Stabenow compromise for COOL provides a voluntary label that both retains the integrity of food labeling for consumers and resolves the current dispute over … Read More
NFU DC Fly-In Focus on COOL
Members of the National Farmers Union (NFU) met with administration officials and Congressional representatives in Washington DC last week for the organization’s 2015 Fall Legislative Fly-In. “This fall has proven to be a very important time for several Farmers Union issues, including the path forward for voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), the full implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as … Read More
NFU Happy GIPSA Defunding Rider Excluded
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
Pro-COOL Forces Fight Back
Members of the National Farmers Union (NFU) have headed to Capitol Hill this week to urge their Congressional representatives to keep COOL and allow the World Trade Organization (WTO) process to conclude without interference. Sixty Farmers Union members from 27 states are working to meet with a targeted group of legislators in response to the final WTO ruling against Country … Read More
Industry Reacts to Final WTO COOL Ruling
In response to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) fourth and final ruling on Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for muscle cuts of beef and pork, the COOL Reform Coalition is calling for “immediate congressional intervention” to bring the U.S. into compliance with its trade obligations and avoid the threat of retaliatory action on the part of Mexico and Canada. “We … Read More