Friday September 17 Ag News

 Webinar to cover paperwork organization, retention for farmers and ranchers

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability will host a webinar on best practices for collecting, filing and securing important documents at noon on Sept. 23.

The webinar, “Don’t Drown in Paperwork,” will be hosted by Jessica Groskopf, an agricultural economist and educator with Nebraska Extension. She will cover how long farmers and ranchers should keep documents such as receipts, invoices, tax returns and more, while presenting strategies on staying organized. The webinar aims to help agricultural businesses to be more organized and gain knowledge about the kinds of documents that need to be retained (and those that do not).

It will be presented as part of the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s weekly webinar series, held every Thursday at noon.

To register for the webinar, visit the center’s website at https://cap.unl.edu.



Aksarben Stock Show 2021 to Feature Grand Drive

The 94th Aksarben Stock Show comes to Grand Island, Nebraska September 23-26, 2021. Livestock entries from 14 states will compete for top honors with beef, swine, sheep, goats, and broilers. The show, which runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will feature over 3,400 entries from 14 states that includes Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Youth ages 9-19 will be competing for top honors in market/breeding beef, sheep, swine, goats, and broilers. The highly educational and popular Calf, Lamb, and Pig Challenge Program judging will take place following the respective market shows on Saturday.

The Grand Drive will be held Saturday night starting at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to watch the Grand Champion Steer get slapped and the handshakes and hugs for all the winners. Over $115,000 in Scholarships and cash prizes will be awarded to the top 10 in each species along with the winners in the Challenge Programs and Broilers. The nights activities include recognition of the sponsors and donors to the event.

Live streaming of the livestock shows and Grand Drive will again be broadcast from the Five Points Bank Pavilion and the Aurora Cooperative Pavilion. The public can access the live stream by going to www.aksarbenstockshow.com.

The market and vendor tradeshow is in the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center. The show features The Turquoise Chandelier, Franco’s, Showbox Boutique, Ruby Ribbon, Top Shelf Western, Cutco Cutlery, Twisted Stitch and more. Cactus Jack’s Chuck Wagon, Papa Tom’s, Heartland United Way Scoops Ice Cream Parlor, Heartland Lutheran High School, and Pizza Hut are popular food vendors that will be at Aksarben this year. Barn Bar and The Pour Horse Coffee Trailer will also be available for your beverage needs.

For more information visit www.aksarbenstockshow.com. The complete show schedule and vendors attending with hours of operation are listed.

The 94th Aksarben Stock Show will be held Sept. 23-26, 2021 at Fonner Park in Grand Island, Nebraska. The show moved from Omaha to Grand Island in 2017. It is being managed and produced by the Nebraska State Fair.




Secure Pork Supply Planning Meetings

Wanting to have a better understanding standing of what the Secure Pork Supply (SPS) is and help to write your SPS plan. Join the Nebraska Pork Producers Association for one of the meetings. Each meeting will start with an overview of SPS and the importance of it, the rest of the day is to help producers with their biosecurity plans for the SPS plan. Feel free to come when you can to get some one on one help.

Wednesday, September 29th 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
Ramada by Wyndham Columbus Hotel & Conference Center
265 33rd Ave, Columbus, NE 68601

Friday, October 1st 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
Nielson Community Center
200 Anna Stalp Ave, West Point, NE 68788

Wednesday, October 6th  9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express
4005 N 6th St, Beatrice, NE 68310

More dates and locations to come.  Register for one of the scheduled meetings by clicking here.... https://www.nepork.org/secure-pork-supply-planning-meetings/.  



IANR Award Nominations Due Oct. 1

The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources' annual faculty and staff nominations are due Oct. 1. The awards, coordinated by the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, recognize faculty and staff members who advance the mission of the university in teaching, research, extension and service.

IANR is currently accepting nominations for the following awards:
- Outstanding Employee Award
- Exemplary Service Award
- Omtvedt Servant Leader Award
- Dinsdale Family Award
- Omtvedt Innovation Award

Full nomination packets should be submitted via the web form. Once submitted, the nomination packets will be sent to the nominee's unit administrator for final approval. Learn more about each award, past award recipients and nomination information at http://ianr.unl.edu/ianr-awards-and-recognition.



ICGA Announces 30-Day Harvest Weight Proclamation Effective Immediately

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation today granting a temporary 30-day weight limit exemption for trucks operating on Iowa roads to support the haul of this year’s crop during harvest. The proclamation will be effective immediately. The 2021 Harvest Weight Proclamation specifically increases the weight allowable for shipment of corn, soybeans, hay, straw, and stover, by 12.5 percent per axle (up to a maximum of 90,000 pounds) without the need for an oversize/overweight permit.

The 2021 proclamation again applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the federal interstate system. Trucks cannot exceed the truck’s regular maximum by more than 12.5 percent per axle and must obey the posted limits on all roads and bridges.

“On behalf of Iowa’s farmers, we extend our gratitude to Governor Reynolds for approval of this proclamation as it is a tremendous help for farmers as we work to efficiently transport this year’s crop,” said Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President Lance Lillibridge, a farmer from Vinton. “ICGA made the request to Governor Reynolds and worked with the Governor’s office to ensure the proclamation moved forward to benefit Iowa’s farmers in time for harvest. Governor Reynolds made the decision to grant the petition as requested by Iowa Corn, it is not a right by law.”

The proclamation directs the Iowa Department of Transportation to monitor the operation of the proclamation and assure the public’s safety by facilitating the movement of the trucks involved. Farmers who are transporting grain are also required to follow their vehicle safety standards on axle weights.

The exemption will be granted for 30 days beginning September 17, 2021, to October 17, 2021.  



IPIC Sow Summit Will Focus on Sow Herd Research and Implementation

Sow farm health and productivity drive the swine industry. In recognition of the ongoing need for information on that aspect of the business, Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University is planning a new one-day conference focused on the sow herd.

The inaugural IPIC Sow Summit, set for Dec. 8 in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center in Ames, is intended for sow farm owners, farm and service managers, and allied industry partners, all of whom who play important roles in keeping U.S. sow farms healthy and profitable.

IPIC extension program specialist Stacie Matchan said the conference features leading swine industry experts on big-picture topics, current and applied research.

“Our presenters will share info on research poised to influence sow farm productivity, and lead discussion on emerging topics that specifically affect sow farms,” she said. “This central venue will bring cutting edge information on sow reproduction and management that producers can quickly implement on their farms.”

The program is nearly finalized with presenters from industry and academics. Confirmed speakers include Malcolm Turley of PIC, Dr. Steve Pollmann of DSP Consulting, Dr. Laura Greiner of Iowa State, Jennifer Patterson of University of Alberta, Mark Schwartz of Schwartz Farms and Dr. Kara Stewart of Purdue University.

For several years, ISU extension swine specialists Dave Stender and Mark Storlie have hosted regional swine reproduction conferences, and this new event will build upon the foundation of those conferences.

Registration for the IPIC Sow Summit is now open. See more information including registration link and sponsor list on the conference website https://ipicsowsummit.org/.



USDA Extends Deadline to Apply for Pandemic Assistance to Livestock Producers with Animal Losses

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing additional time for livestock and poultry producers to apply for the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP). Producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing may now apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals through Oct. 12, 2021, rather than the original deadline of Sept. 17, 2021. PLIP is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.

“Livestock and poultry producers were among the hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “We want to ensure that all eligible producers have the opportunity to apply for this critical assistance. The October 12 deadline also aligns with the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 deadline.”

PLIP provides payments to producers for losses of livestock or poultry depopulated from March 1, 2020 through Dec. 26, 2020, due to insufficient processing access as a result of the pandemic. Payments are based on 80% of the fair market value of the livestock and poultry and for the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animal. Eligible livestock and poultry include swine, chickens and turkeys.

PLIP Program Details
PLIP payments are calculated by multiplying the number of head of eligible livestock or poultry by the payment rate per head, and then subtracting the amount of any payments the eligible livestock or poultry owner has received for disposal of the livestock or poultry under the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or a state program. The payments will also be reduced by any Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 1 and 2) payments paid on the same inventory of swine that were depopulated.

Eligible livestock and poultry producers can apply for PLIP through the Oct. 12, 2021, deadline by completing the FSA-620, Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program application, and submitting it to any FSA county office. Additional documentation may be required. Visit farmers.gov/plip for more information on how to apply.

Additional Pandemic Assistance
Other programs within the Pandemic Assistance for Producer initiative with upcoming deadlines include:
·       Oct. 12 - Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2, which provides critical support to agricultural producers impacted by COVID-19 market disruptions.
·       Oct. 15 – Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers, which provides financial relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that experienced losses in 2020 due to COVID-19.

To learn more about USDA’s commitment to deliver financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers and businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19 market disruptions, visit farmers.gov/pandemic-assistance.



RMA Makes Improvements to Whole-Farm Revenue Protection

Organic and aquaculture producers can soon benefit from updates to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) plan. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is revising the plan of insurance to make it more flexible and accessible to producers beginning in crop year 2022.

“These improvements to the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection program will make it a better risk management tool for producers,” said RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy. “USDA is committed to equity in program delivery, and this includes specialty crop, organic, and aquaculture producers, who will benefit from these enhancements to WFRP.”

Changes to WFRP include:
-    Increasing expansion limits for organic producers to the higher of $500,000 or 35 percent. Previously, small and medium size organic operations were held to the same 35 percent limit to expansion as conventional practice producers.
-    Increasing the limit of insurance for aquaculture producers to $8.5 million. Previously aquaculture producers were held to a $2 million cap on expected revenue, this change allows more aquaculture producers to participate in the program.
-    Allowing a producer to report acreage as certified organic, or as acreage in transition to organic, when the producer has requested an organic certification by the acreage reporting date. This allows organic producers more flexibility when reporting certified acreage.
-    Providing flexibility to report a partial yield history for producers lacking records by inserting zero yields for missing years. Previously, missing a year of records would cause the commodity’s expected value to be zero, meaning past revenue from the commodity would contribute nothing to the insurance guarantee.

WFRP provides a risk management safety net for all commodities on the farm under one insurance policy and is available in all counties nationwide. Producers purchased more than 2,000 policies to protect $2.26 billion in liabilities in 2020.

This insurance plan is tailored for any farm with up to $8.5 million in insured revenue, including farms with specialty or organic commodities (both crops and livestock), or those marketing to local, regional, farm-identity preserved, specialty, or direct markets.

Insurance for Specialty Crop and Organic Producers
The number of agricultural producers who purchase crop insurance for their specialty and organic crops continues to climb, which USDA attributes to its work with producers and agricultural groups in recent years to create new crop insurance options.



USDA Issues Federal Order as Part of Establishment of Foreign Animal Disease Protection Zone in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands to Protect from African Swine Fever

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing a Federal Order suspending the interstate movement of all live swine, swine germplasm, swine products, and swine byproducts from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the mainland United States until APHIS can establish sufficient mitigations to authorize such movement. This Federal Order, effective today, is the final action in a series of safeguards needed to establish an African Swine Fever (ASF) protection zone in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

APHIS is taking this action out of an abundance of caution to further safeguard the U.S. swine herd and protect the interests and livelihoods of U.S. pork producers. ASF has not been detected in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and we continue to coordinate with both territories to increase education and outreach and improve biosecurity.

On July 28, APHIS confirmed ASF in samples collected from pigs in the Dominican Republic through an existing cooperative surveillance program. After confirmation, APHIS quickly increased existing surveillance and mitigations within Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

On August 26, APHIS announced its intent to establish a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)-recognized foreign animal disease protection zone around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to prevent ASF from being introduced there or the mainland United States. The OIE provides for the establishment of a protection zone within an area free of disease, as a temporary measure in response to an increased risk from a neighboring country or zone of different animal health status.

When the protection zone is established, APHIS will have processes in place in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to:
-    Prohibit movement of live swine and products out of the protection zone.
-    Conduct appropriate surveillance within the protection zone to quickly detect introductions of disease.
-    Conduct a public education campaign relating to biosecurity on farms and other establishments, prohibitions on movement of live swine and products outside the region, contacting authorities to report clinical cases, and similar actions.

In the coming weeks, APHIS will detail the actions taken to create the protection zone in a dossier, which will be submitted to the OIE. Once the dossier has been submitted to the OIE, APHIS will work to confirm that individual countries recognize and accept the zone(s). Their recognition will ensure the continued flow of U.S. pork and live swine exports.



NPPC Commends House Lawmakers for African Swine Fever Funding Request

The National Pork Producers Council today commended seven House members for requesting funding to protect the U.S. swine herd from African swine fever (ASF).

In a letter sent yesterday, the lawmakers urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to prioritize funding for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to address a potential outbreak in the United States of ASF, which recently was detected in the Dominican Republic, the first time in 40 years the disease has been in the Western Hemisphere. Funds are necessary “to ensure that pork producers in our districts and across the country do not suffer the severe consequences of a potential ASF outbreak in the United States,” the lawmakers said. Signing the letter were House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott (D-GA), panel members Cindy Axne (D-IA), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Jim Costa (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), whose district includes a significant amount of pork production.

“Although ASF isn’t a threat to people, among hogs it’s highly contagious, with mortality rates approaching 100 percent. We need to be prepared to deal with this disease, which would be devastating to pork producers,” said NPPC President Jen Sorenson. “It’s critical that USDA have adequate funds to address ASF, so NPPC and the 60,000-plus pork producers it represents are grateful to the lawmakers who made this funding request to Speaker Pelosi.”

The lawmakers asked the speaker to include in the next continuing resolution or supplemental appropriations bill $75 million for:
-    The National Veterinary Stockpile for large animal depopulation and disposal equipment. If ASF is detected in the U.S., large-scale euthanasia or depopulation of animals will be necessary for the emergency control and eradication of ASF.
-    Additional staff for APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) field force to respond to and address an outbreak of ASF or other foreign animal disease.
-    The National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), which provides disease surveillance and diagnostic support.



NCBA Confident in U.S. Cattle Record, Urges Open Dialogue on Methane Target

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) urged the Biden administration to maintain an open dialogue with experts in agriculture as the President today announced the Global Methane Pledge as part of an international effort to curb global methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

To achieve this goal, the administration will need the voluntary participation, scientific research and practical knowledge of U.S. cattle producers. The industry stands ready to continue leading the American agricultural community — and the rest of the world — on responsible resource management.

Last month, NCBA announced that the U.S. cattle industry will be working to demonstrate climate neutrality by 2040.

"We are proud of the U.S. cattle industry's track record of continual innovation to improve environmental outcomes, and we are committed to writing the next chapter in that history of stewardship with the voluntary, industry-led goal of demonstrating climate neutrality by 2040," said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. "We’ve engaged with the Biden administration since day one to ensure the U.S. cattle industry is recognized for our strong record of environmental stewardship and that our voice, and our priorities, are heard loud and clear. The administration cannot accomplish lasting conservation without the buy-in of cattle producers."

Cattle emit methane when they digest their food. This happens due to the cow's specialized ruminant digestive system, which allows cattle to consume grasses which grow on marginal land that would be otherwise unusable for growing food. The gas breaks down in the atmosphere in 9-12 years, is sequestered in soil and grasses, and then consumed by ruminant animals as part of a natural grazing cycle.

In recent years, GWP100 — the default method for calculating greenhouse gas emissions — has come under criticism in the global scientific community for failing to accurately account for the impact of short-lived emissions like methane. GWP* is gaining support among scientists as a more appropriate measure of methane's actual effect on the climate. NCBA has long advocated for the use of the most up-to-date science and data as the foundation of federal climate policy. As the GWP* methodology is adopted around the globe, NCBA supports the United States' adaptation of its policy to reflect the best available science.

The administration has not announced any policies or directives to restrict beef consumption in the United States.  



 Producers Livestock Marketing Association to host World Livestock Auctioneer Championship Western Qualifying Event   
 
The first of three regional qualifying events for the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) will be hosted by Producers Livestock Marketing Association in Salina, Utah, on September 28, 2021.  

Opening ceremonies will commence at 9:30 a.m. (MT), with the awards presentation following the competition. A total of 26 contestants will compete for a top 10 placing, granting them a spot in the semi-finals for the 2022 WLAC at Shipshewana Auction, Inc. in Shipshewana, Indiana.
 
Each qualifying event is a live sale where each contestant auctions 8 drafts of livestock (traditionally cattle) to actual bidders. Contestants are judged on the clarity of their auction chant; professionalism; and their ability to conduct the sale while catching bids.

Contestants competing are Neil Bouray, Webber, Kan.; Colton Brantley, Modesto, Calif.; David Cox, Orderville, Utah; Duke Cox, Orderville, Utah; Dakota Davis, Waukomis, Okla.; Eric Drees, Caldwell, Idaho; Brandon Frey, Diagonal, Iowa; Jeff Garber, Stewartsville, Mo.; Joshua Garcia, Goliad, Texas; Steve Goedert, Dillon, Mont.; Kirby Hill, Paris, Texas; Mark Mast, Fairfield, Mont.; Robert McDowell III, Butte, Mont.; Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif.; Terry Moe, Watford City, N.D.; Sixto Paiz, Portales, N.M.; Jake Parnell, Sacramento, Calif.; Jack Riggs, Glenns Ferry, Idaho; Kade Rogge, Rupert, Idaho; Jim Settle, Arroyo Grande, Calif.; Daren Shumway, Lehi, Ariz.; Shawn Silverberg, Fort Collins, Colo.; Robert Strickler, Banco, Va.; Curtis Wetovick, Fullerton, Neb.; Tim Yoder, Montezuma, Ga.; Zack Zumstein, Marsing, Idaho.  

The public may attend the livestock auction and competition free of charge. It will also be streamed live on the Livestock Marketing Association’s Facebook page.

The remaining qualifying events are balanced regionally across LMA Membership. The Midwestern Qualifying Event will be held at Cherokee Sales Co. in Cherokee, Okla., on November 10. The Eastern Qualifying event will be held at Tri-State Livestock Market in Abingdon, Va., on January 7.  



American Dairy Coalition Supports Immediate Return to Previous Class I Formula Pricing Until New Milk Pricing Options are Examined

“We are in the midst of a modern-day dairy crisis magnified by a Class I pricing change in the 2018 Farm Bill. This system cannot adapt to market conditions and thus is not fairly compensating our dairy farmers. The formula change is a symptom of larger problems in a system that is confusing, convoluted and difficult to understand. We need to put the power back in the farmers’ hands,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) during the Sept. 15 Senate Ag hearing in the dairy subcommittee she chairs.
 
The American Dairy Coalition applauds Senator Gillibrand for her leadership, working with Senate Ag leadership, her subcommittee, and the dairy industry to bring this hearing to fruition.
 
Recently, the ADC board passed a motion supporting a return to the previous Class I formula while options are vetted through the USDA hearing process. Their decision aligns well with the final outcome from the recent milk pricing hearing on Capitol Hill.
 
Laurie Fischer, CEO of the ADC, said she “doesn't see the downside to farmers in returning to the previous ‘higher of’ formula for Class I milk temporarily, until USDA Dairy Programs’ formal hearing process, and farmer input, can be considered on the best way to move forward. There is evidence that the loss of the ‘higher of’ milk pricing method significantly undermined farmers’ risk management strategies, and certain farmers witnessed severe losses while others benefited. Going back to the ‘higher of’ milk pricing formula provides a reasonable farm-level milk price.”
 
Fischer observed that during the Senate subcommittee hearing, panelists agreed Federal Milk Marketing Orders need reform and shared their short- and long-term views. They also agreed that the best method for reform is through the comprehensive USDA rulemaking process that ensures all parties are heard and that the new Class I formula, done legislatively and implemented in May 2019, is inadequate for the changing and uncertain markets.

"We agree,” said Fischer, “But an immediate solution is needed while the slow and deliberate long-term process takes place. Returning to the previous Class I formula, one that already went through such a deliberative process, is the short-term option that makes sense for producers to be able to navigate price volatility and manage their price risk. Everyone agrees the change was never meant to harm farmers, but unfortunately, it did”
 
Verified, was the impact of more than $750 million in losses under the new averaging method with 74-cent adjuster compared with the previous use of the higher of Class III or IV to set Class I.
 
As the losses piled up, and risk management tools faltered under the new formula, ADC facilitated discussions with producers and state organizations, asking to collaborate on a solution in a March letter to National Milk Producers Federation and International Dairy Foods Association.
 
During the Senate subcommittee hearing, Mike Ferguson, a 150-cow dairy producer in Mississippi supported bringing back the previous ‘higher of’ method while a longer-term solution can be considered through the USDA process. He said the Southeast fluid milk market was devastated by the class price inversions.
 
Jim Davenport, milking 64 cows in New York observed the class prices are aligning better recently but said “we’re not out of the woods yet,” on COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions.
 
Christina Zuiderveen, whose family businesses milk 15,000 cows in Iowa and South Dakota said pricing for milk of the same quality should align, foster innovation and competition, be transparent and promote a nimble industry that can respond to changes.
 
If producers can’t anticipate which classes will participate in the pool or drive their milk price, then they can’t manage their risk effectively, losses become compounded, and this discourages risk management, she said, noting a variance as wide as $9 per hundredweight between neighbors and regions “creating a sense of helplessness among producers.”
 
Catherine de Ronde, an economist with Agri-Mark, a dairy cooperative with 720 Northeast members, said producer risk management decisions are based on traditional class pricing relationships and what the market might do. But the rapid rise in Class III made divergence so wide, and the new Class I formula could not account for that.
 
Under the new formula, USDA's pandemic cheese purchases supported dairy but created distortions. As those purchases were tilted to cheese, “this large divergence meant the Class I milk prices were lower than they would have been under the former pricing rule,” said Cornell ag economics professor Dr. Christopher Wolf.
 
Robert Wills, president of two cheese companies near Plain, Wisconsin said the survival of dairy depends on being able to evolve on these pricing issues.



Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling for Beef Bill Officially Introduced (S. 2716)

On Monday, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), for himself and for Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mike Rounds, (R-S.D.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the “American Beef Labeling Act of 2021,” which is now officially numbered as Senate Bill 2716 (S.2716).

Senate Bill 2716 reinstates beef as among the numerous food commodities currently subject to the United States mandatory country-of-origin labeling (M-COOL) law that was originally passed by Congress in the 2002 Farm Bill.

The reinstatement of beef into the existing M-COOL law will occur no later than one-year after S.2716 is enacted.  In the event the U.S. Trade Ambassador and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture develop a means of implementing S.2716 in a manner compliant with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, the bill authorizes the two presidential cabinet members to implement the measure any time after the bill’s enactment, but no later than its one-year anniversary date.  

Both beef and pork were included in the original M-COOL law passed in the 2002 Farm Bill, but Congress later removed both beef and pork from the law in 2015. Senate Bill 2716 will effectively reverse the 2015 congressional action as it relates to beef.    

Today, during a press conference hosted by the bipartisan bill’s cosponsor, Senator Jon Tester, R-CALF USA’s Director of Operations, Candace Bullard, said one of the reasons America has lost hundreds of thousands of cattle ranchers over the past few decades is because “the four largest meatpackers that purchase cattle for beef are outsourcing cattle and beef from foreign countries, and they don’t let the final purchaser know where its coming from.”

Bullard continued, “I’m honored to stand here today next to Senator Tester as he introduces his and Senators Thune, Rounds and Booker’s “American Beef Labeling Act” that will restore Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for beef and requires all beef sold at the grocery store to be labeled as to where it was born, raised and harvested.

“We, as a nation, depend on our cattle ranchers – we all witnessed the empty meat cases at the start of the pandemic. Together, we have the power to change the course of our cattle industry: for U.S. cattle producers to earn a better living, for job creation and economic development, and for the protection of our nation’s food security.”

Bullard concluded her remarks by saying, “Senator Tester’s bill will give consumers the information they need to help save Montana’s and America’s ranchers.”

Background:
The 2002 M-COOL law passed in the 2002 Farm Bill and amended by the 2008 Farm Bill required country-of-origin labels on beef, lamb, pork, goat meat, chicken, fruits and vegetables, fish and shellfish, peanuts, ginseng, pecans, and macadamia nuts.

After M-COOL’s 2002 passage, the meatpacking lobby successfully delayed the implantation of M-COOL for beef and other meats for seven years, and when it later took effect in early 2009, the implementing regulations allowed beef packers to affix a label on beef products suggesting that beef originated from three countries, such as “Product of Canada, Mexico, and USA.”

The 2009 implementation of M-COOL for both beef and pork triggered a World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint by Canada and Mexico, with both alleging that M-COOL treated their imported livestock less favorably than domestic livestock.

Then, in early 2013 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) attempted to address the WTO’s finding that, among other things, the multi-country label allowed by the 2009 implementing regulations diminished M-COOL’s stated purpose of accurately informing consumers as to where their meat originated. The USDA promulgated new regulations that required beef to be labeled according to where each of its three production steps took place: where the animal was born, where it was raised, and where it was harvested. This produced labels such as “Born in Mexico, Raised and Harvested in the USA,” and “Born, Raised, and Harvested in the USA.”

But these more accurate labels did not satisfy the WTO and it ultimately ruled that M-COOL discriminated against imports of livestock from Canada and Mexico. Based on the WTO’s ruling, and without pursuing any further diplomatic measures to attempt to assuage Canada and Mexico’s concern, Congress simply repealed M-COOL for beef and pork in 2015.  

Since 2015 consumers have not been afforded information as to where the beef they purchase at retail originates.