NCBA's statement on COOL disappointing to some

The Oct. 7 statement by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) regarding Canada's challenge of the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling Law (COOL) under the World Trade Organization (WTO) was disappointing to many cattle producers across the country, including myself. As the primary contractor for, and receiver of, Beef Checkoff funds, NCBA needs to learn to listen to our consumers and respect the hundreds of thousands of cattle producers who pay into the mandatory Beef Checkoff. With public statements clearly aimed at undermining U.S. ranchers' defense of COOL, it is little wonder that producers overwhelmingly favor changes in the Beef Checkoff structure. I am reminded of the 1998 and 1999 U.S. trade investigation cases against Canada for dumping and subsidies in the cattle industry. During the International Trade Committee hearings, Canada's attorney used NCBA statements against U.S. ranchers. Today we are hearing similar statements from this same U.S. based organization about Canada's COOL challenge, trying to show a lack of unity and support by U.S. cattle producers for COOL. You can bet that at the WTO hearings on the COOL challenge, Canada, and what is anticipated to be nearly every other importing beef country into the U.S., will use statements like the one issued last week...read more