Local Meeting to Inform Cattlemen on Country of Origin Labeling Rule

Country of origin labeling legislation will be the topic when cattle producers participate in an informational meeting in Southwest Missouri March 11.  The meeting – to be broadcast live on the Internet – is being hosted and coordinated by Joplin Regional Stockyards in Joplin, Mo., and the joint efforts of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

The focus will be on helping producers understand how country of origin labeling legislation impacts cow/calf producers.  The meeting will be held March 11 at 6:00 p.m. (CST) at the Joplin Regional Stockyards and be available to cattle producers nationwide via the Internet.  To view the meeting live visit www.joplinstockyards.com and click on the “COOL Web Cast” icon during the scheduled meeting time.

“This is an outstanding opportunity to provide producers nationwide with information from people actively involved in the process and intimately familiar with the facts,” says Ken Disselhorst, MCA president and a cow/calf producer from Palmyra, Mo.  “This meeting demonstrates what we can accomplish when our state and national organizations work together with our local champions out in the country.”

Scheduled speaker for the program include; William Sessions, associate deputy administrator for the Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA; Chandler Keys, vice-president public policy, NCBA; Marcine Moldenhauer, value added procurement manager, EXCEL Corporation; and Mark Dopp, general counsel, American Meat Institute. Guest speakers will be followed by a question and answer session.  Sam Housman Meats and Surebeam will provide irradiated hamburger dinners at 5:15 p.m. for those in attendance.

“This meeting is a great opportunity for me to understand how this law impacts the way I do business and what I need to comply,” according to Steve Stone, a cow-calf producer from Galena, Mo.  “It’s important that the involved government and industry segments are coming to the country to help us better understand the implications of this legislation and what it requires of all of us.”

Terry Stokes, NCBA chief executive officer, says the meeting should provide information that producers will need as the law takes effect.  “The legislation requires retailers to label products starting Oct. 1, 2004, and that will have an effect on us.  Producers are required to provide the information that allows the retailer to comply,” Stokes says.  “This forum helps producers understand what the retailers and packers will require of us, and what is associated with the country of origin labeling law.  These could end up costing cattle producers money and time,” he states.

Stokes said USDA will likely begin the rulemaking process for mandatory country of origin labeling in April, with mandatory implementation of the law by Sept. 30, 2004. 

For more information on attending this meeting or viewing over the Internet please contact Mark Harmon, Joplin Regional Stockyards, 417-548-2333,Luke Burbank, MCA, 573-499-9162 or Melanie Daye, NCBA 303-850-3388.