R-CALF USA board sends letter urging Senate Ag Committee to restore MCOOL in Farm Bill

The 14-member board governs R-CALF USA which represents independent, family-scale cattle producers from across the United States. In a letter to the committee, the board said the legislation would reinstate mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef, restore marketplace transparency, and ensure consumers can identify beef born, raised and harvested in the United States while allowing producers to receive fair value for their cattle.

The board acknowledged that reinstating MCOOL is likely to be one of the committee’s most debated issues but said providing consumers with accurate country-of-origin information is a straightforward principle that promotes transparency, informed purchasing decisions and fair competition.

The letter also emphasized that the cattle and meatpacking industries have very different economic interests and described cattle production as a vital economic driver for rural communities nationwide.

According to the board, independent cattle producers seek fair market value for their cattle, while meatpackers seek to purchase cattle at the lowest possible cost and sell beef at the highest price consumers are willing to pay.

The letter noted that the United States imports substantial amounts of beef and cattle each year. Although imported products are identified by country of origin when they enter the United States, that information is not provided to consumers at retail, the letter said. Without MCOOL, imported beef can be sold alongside domestic beef without distinction, preventing consumers from identifying beef born, raised and harvested in the United States and denying producers the opportunity to capture the value of their domestically produced cattle.

The board also explained that voluntary country-of-origin labeling has proven ineffective because companies have no incentive to disclose all origin information to consumers.

The letter further stated that consumers continue to purchase beef despite historically high prices, showing they value it. As consumers continue choosing beef, the board said, they increasingly expect clear and accurate information about the products they buy, including where they originate.

The board also pointed to polling that it said consistently shows overwhelming public support for MCOOL for beef, indicating that support extends well beyond independent cattle producers.

According to the letter, the American Beef Labeling Act provides a practical path forward by restoring MCOOL for beef while directing the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop an implementation plan that complies with U.S. trade obligations. If a compliant plan cannot be developed within 12 months, MCOOL for beef would revert to the existing MCOOL law that already applies to commodities including fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken and lamb.

The board concluded that restoring MCOOL through the American Beef Labeling Act would strengthen transparency, ensure fair competition, and protect consumers’ right to know where their food originates while benefiting both consumers and independent cattle producers.

To see the R-CALF USA Board of Director’s letter to the Senate Agriculture Committee click HERE.