Cattlemen Remain Resolute to Make Labeling Work for Producers

“While the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is disappointed with the Senate’s refusal to broadly recognize that there are significant flaws with the current mandatory country-of-origin labeling law, cattlemen remain committed to seeking a solution that will bolster the pocketbooks of cow/calf producers.

 “America’s cattlemen are not being served by the highly-charged political rhetoric that this issue has generated in the countryside. Reasonable discussion based on facts, and logical ideas to bring the industry together are needed to fix recognized flaws in the law.

 “The time has come for those in the industry to quit fighting amongst themselves. This law is marching forward, and the industry is not prepared to implement this mandatory statute without bearing significant hardship.

 “We have a fundamental belief in the value of country-of-origin labeling. But the reality is some modifications to the existing law are needed so that producers can fully reap that value in the form of higher profits.

 “For generations cattlemen have been proud of the fact that they run their operations with little interference from the heavy hand of government.  Yet now we’re facing a government-mandated program that will allow packers and retailers more access to producers’ records, and some level of costs that will ultimately be borne by producers.   

 “NCBA, as directed by our member/producers, will continue to work for a program that all producers can support and one that truly benefits them.”