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R-CALF USA In the News R-CALF USA in the News - Click here for independent newspaper, magazine, and radio coverage of R-CALF USA's activities across the nation. R-CALF USA News Releases and Statements *Media: For comments, interviews, and further information, please contact R-CALF USA at 406-252-2516 or r-calfusa@r-calfusa.com. If you're not a member, you can still receive R-CALF USA News Releases by email. Sign up here!
May 3, 2013 Washington, DC – R-CALF USA and 20 other livestock and consumer groups sent a joint letter to leaders of the agriculture committees in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate urging the inclusion of a ban on packer ownership of livestock and other livestock and poultry reforms in the 2013 Farm Bill.
April 15, 2013 Billings, Mont. – In comments supporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) March 12, 2013 proposal to modify its country of origin labeling (COOL) regulations, R-CALF USA urged the agency to adopt additional modifications the group said would achieve cost savings, eliminate redundancies, and reduce the recordkeeping burden for all suppliers of cattle, both domestic and foreign.
Widespread Public Support for USDA Proposed Rule as Comment Period Concludes April 9, 2013 Washington, D.C.—Consumers and farmers overwhelmingly support strengthened Country-of-Origin-Labeling (COOL) rules, as demonstrated by more than 35,600 petition signatures sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture demanding that the integrity of COOL be protected in the face of World Trade Organization (WTO) scrutiny. Four national advocacy groups delivered electronic petitions on the recently proposed COOL rules as part of the regulatory comment period, which ends April 11.
April 8, 2013 Billings, Mont. – In a formal complaint sent Friday to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector General Phyllis Fong, R-CALF USA charged that the audit report released last week by the USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG) concerning the beef checkoff program is a “colossal whitewash of monumental proportions.”
229 farm, consumer, rural, faith, food and environmental groups from 45 states demand sensible labels April 2, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C.—A coalition of 229 farm, rural, faith, consumer and environmental organizations from 45 states delivered a letter urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect the integrity of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for meat products. Justice Department Fails to Stop Ongoing Monopolization of Beefpacking Industry March 29, 2013 Billings, Mont. – On Tuesday, the Obama Administration’s U.S. Department of Justice (Justice Department) undid the monumental progress made by the Bush Administration to put a stop to the ongoing monopolization of the U.S. meatpacking industry. The Justice Department closed its investigation into the proposed acquisition of two XL Four Star Beef slaughtering plants, one in Omaha, Neb. and the other in Nampa, Idaho, by Brazilian-owned JBS. R-CALF USA Forms Sheep Committee March 28, 2013 Billings, Mont. – In response to requests by sheep producers who recently experienced a 50 percent decline in lamb prices, the 15-member board of directors of R-CALF USA voted last week to form an R-CALF USA Sheep Committee. R-CALF USA President George Chambers appointed Mud Butte, S.D. rancher and longtime R-CALF USA member Bill Kluck to serve as the committee’s chairman. Proposed COOL Rule Mandates Ag Secretary’s Four-Year-Old Request March 11, 2013 Billings, Mont. – Four years ago Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to food industry representatives signaling to them that the country of origin labeling (COOL) rules drafted by the previous Administration did not achieve Congress’ intent to inform consumers about the origins of their food. Cattle Groups Square Off with HSUS over Domestic Horse Slaughter February 21, 2013 Billings, Mont. – Yesterday R-CALF USA joined with other groups and individuals to counter the Humane Society of the United States’ (HSUS’) efforts to block the humane slaughter of unwanted and unusable horses at a New Mexico slaughtering facility. USDA Sends New COOL Rule to White House February 11, 2013 Washington, D.C. – On Friday, February 7, 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the agency’s much anticipated proposed rule that would modify regulations that implement the 2002 country of origin labeling (COOL) law. Under COOL, retailers are required to label beef, pork, lamb, chicken, fruits and vegetables and other food products with the name of the country from which the products were grown or produced. R-CALF USA Applauds Senate COOL Letter February 2, 2013 Billings, MT – R-CALF USA applauds yesterday’s action by a group of 31 U.S. Senators led by Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Tim Johnson (D-SD), and Charles Grassley (R-IA). who sent a joint letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk informing them that it was Congress’ intent to provide reliable information to consumers “about where their meat and seafood comes from” when Congress enacted the mandatory country-of-origin-labeling (COOL) law after more than 10 years of deliberation. Deadline Looms for U.S. to Unwind WTO’s COOL Clock: R-CALF USA Offers a Solution “R-CALF USA is so determined to preserve COOL that it is aggressively fighting in all three branches of the U.S. government to defend it.” December 27, 2012 Billings, MT – The World Trade Organization (WTO) has directed the United States to modify its country of origin labeling (COOL) law no later than May 23, 2013. Supported by multinational meatpackers and meatpacker associations such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Canada and Mexico successfully convinced the WTO that COOL violates international trade rules. Cattle, Farm and Consumer Groups Join Together to Urge Vigorous Review of JBS Merger Proposal December 26, 2012 Billings, MT – Five statewide cattle groups and R-CALF USA joined in a letter with 37 U.S.-based farm and consumer groups to collectively urge the U.S. Department of Justice (Justice Department) to “undertake an expanded, probing, and in-depth investigation into the proposal by JBS USA to acquire two U.S.-based beef packing plants owned by Canadian-based XL Four Star Beef.” R-CALF USA: Animal ID Rule Less Onerous than Government Wanted December 21, 2012 Billings, MT – On Dec. 28, 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will publish its final national animal identification rule, known as the Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate (final rule). The final rule will take effect 60 days later, on Feb. 26, 2013. USDA Prepares to Expose the U.S. to an Unnecessary and Avoidable Risk of FMD December 18, 2012 Billings, MT – On Jan. 6, 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) granted approval to six Catarina, Brazil, meatpacking plants owned by five firms to export raw pork to the United States. Today, industry news reports indicate that raw pork will be imported into the United States from Catarina, Brazil, beginning in March 2013. Missed a news release? Need more information? Check out R-CALF USA's News Release Archive for past news releases we've issued. You may want to Search for topics by keyword. |
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