Flanked by beef producers from around the country, President Donald Trump signed Executive Orders on Friday and USDA made additional announcements supporting America’s ranchers and protecting our nation’s cattle herd.
The orders and announcements include efforts to allow on-farm meat processing, stricter enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, protecting herds from gray wolves, and studying implementation of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL). Much of what is outlined in the EOs is in the form of studies and reports to be done, or requires additional action at the state or federal level, such as MCOOL, which was authorized in the 2002 and 2008 farm bills but was challenged by Canada and Mexico when it was finally implemented and ultimately ended in 2015. When President Trump was asked about implementing labeling, he said, “I understand Congress has something to do with that one, so we’re putting it in front of Congress right away. It should be no problem.”
Among those who joined President Trump in the White House for the announcement were American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, R-CALF USA President Dave Hyde, ranchers Jim Mundorf, Casey Murph, and Amanda Radke, and former NFL Hall of Famer and first generation Wisconsin rancher Joe Thomas.
Listen to the President and others at the signing.
President Trump and beef producers 28:27