Agricultural News
NCBA Continues to Support Consumers, Oppose Imposition of COOL
Wed, 31 Jul 2013 17:20:08 CDT
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association has never been a fan of the Country of Origin Labeling rule since it was proposed by the USDA about a decade ago. It was finalized in May and it is still problematic.
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays spoke with NCBA's CEO Forrest Roberts recently about the organization's opposition to the rule. (You can here their full conversation by clicking on the LISTEN BAR at the bottom of this story.)
Roberts said market research indicates consumers aren't as concerned with the origin of a meat product as much as they are concerned with labels that will differentiate products.
"For example, Certified Angus Beef is a great example where it's a marketing point of differentiation that has more to do with a marketing level conversation and we feel that private industry is best suited to give marketing and product differentiation not the federal government."
Roberts said that the ultimate loser in the USDA's requirement for Country of Origin Labeling is the beef producer. That's why the NCBA is fighting so hard for a solution that will not lead to retaliation by countries like Canada and Mexico.
"When we here customers tell us that that information is not of value where that animal was raised or harvested here in this country, we've got to listen to the customer from that perspective."
You can read more about COOL by clicking here and here.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show- and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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