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Karina Jones is a real-life ranch wife in the Nebraska Sandhills, Field Director for R-CalfUSA and one of the most highly sought-after speakers in the cattle industry nationwide!
And now the NEW VOICE of Farm & Ranch Country, Karina Jones –
Good day everyone in farm and ranch country!
Just as I predicted during our last visit, lawmakers were busy getting last minute business done before they flew back home for the August congressional recess. One item of business that greatly affects the cattle industry is a bill called the Country-of-Origin Labeling Enforcement Act, that was introduced in the house, by Representative Harriet Hageman from Wyoming, and Ro Khanna, from California.
Just for perspective, The American Beef Labeling Act was introduced in the Senate at the beginning of the congressional session but never had a House companion bill introduced. That is because these members of the House were simmering on stronger, tougher language to support the American cattle producers and restore labeling integrity for the American consumer. This new bill on the House side states that neither the WTO or any international trade body that the US is a part of should have any bearing on our labeling laws or the USDA’s ability to correctly label meat with it country of origin. Yes, this new legislation basically declares that we are a sovereign nation that can do as it pleases at our own meat counter. I like it! If you are a consumer of beef or a cattle producer, call your US Representatives office and tell them co-sponsor and support the Country-of-Origin Labeling Enforcement Act today!
This week US Trade Ambassador, Katherine Tai, received a petition from American sheep producers for relief from lamb and mutton imports which the group says has decimated the United States commercial sheep industry.
According to R-CALF USA, “The 33-page petition describes the importance of the U.S. sheep industry to America’s rural communities, environment, and economy. By way of numerous charts, the petition shows that imported lamb and mutton, primarily from Australia and New Zealand, have increased 2,363% in dollar value and 543% in quantity since the early 90s.
According to the petition, American lamb consumption has increased significantly over the past decade but the tide of imports from foreign supply chains has captured all of that increase while domestic production continually declines. The petition shows that 74% of lamb and mutton consumed in the U.S. now originates from foreign soil, and domestic production has declined 60%.
The petition urges the Administration and Congress to take immediate action to protect the commercial U.S. sheep industry from total extinction and creating an irreversible dependency on foreign supply chains for this American staple.
The specific relief sought in the petition includes a request to Ambassador Tai for a Global Safeguard Investigation and a request that Congress establish a phased-in tariff rate quota (TRQ) system over 10 years. The group states that during the 10-year phase-in period, the TRQ would be used to encourage the growth in production of the U.S. sheep industry to achieve a 50% market share in the United States by year 10.”
Join me next week as I will bring you ag news from our nation’s capital.
To catch up on a full menu of ag news and markets check out the Your Ag Network app or website. Market analyst Brian Hoops and award winning Hot Barn Report broadcaster, Monte James, keep you up to date on all the markets in the grain belt and cattle country! If you are looking for a daily dose of ranch life with my family, you will find it on Ranch Raised with Karina Jones.
Karina ranches with her husband, Marty, and 4 children near Broken Bow, NE. She grew up in western NE, with roots also in southwest SD. The cattle industry and raising kids is her passion.
Tune in Fridays on The Hot Barn Report, where she deep dives into cattle industry issues and highlights industry reforms or listen to Ranch Raised with Karina Jones a slice of daily life on the Jones Ranch.
