11/04/2005

SD Stockgrowers Frustrated with COOL Delay, Appreciate S.D. Support

Rapid City ~ Members of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA), while disgusted with another two-year delay of mandatory country of origin labeling with the passage of the ag spending bill, are thankful for bipartisan support from all three of South Dakota’s Congressional Delegation on the issue.

“I’m appalled at the backdoor deal that Congressman Bonilla cut, in order to once again deny American ag producers the opportunity to label and market our own products,” said South Dakota Stockgrowers Association President Rick Fox, Hermosa, S.D. “Congressman Bonilla refused to discuss the issue in the open, but snuck in a delay for mandatory country of origin labeling after the conference committee meeting was over. I can’t think of anything more undemocratic or unpatriotic than taking away the rights of America’s food producers to label our products, and worst of all, doing so without discussion or debate of his fellow conferees. It is a slap in the face to U.S. producers as well as Senators who represent states like South Dakota that rely heavily on ag production. It’s also discouraging that a majority of our U.S. Senators, while supporting mandatory country of origin labeling in concept, did not vote to stop implementation of the ag appropriations bill, which includes Bonilla’s two-year delay for the producer and consumer-friendly law.”

Fox said the Stockgrowers do appreciate South Dakota’s congressional delegation, who stood up for South Dakota producers by voting against the appropriations bill, in an attempt to revisit the issue and strike the delay for mandatory country of origin labeling. “South Dakota’s Senators Johnson and Thune send a strong message when they set aside partisan politics and voted in agreement on mandatory country of origin labeling, which is clearly needed for American agriculture to compete in the global marketplace,” Fox said. “Congresswoman Herseth has worked diligently toward implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling, and voted against the House version of the spending bill.”

“It’s disheartening that while Congressman Bonilla was taking away our ability to implement mandatory country of origin labeling, the country of New Zealand was approving a law that requires country of origin labeling on produce sold in that country. American agriculture has once again been put at a disadvantage, thanks to the shameless political maneuvering of Congressman Bonilla and others who prioritize multinational corporations over American food producers.”