Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
5/23/03
Contacts:
Jerry Weiss, Pocahontas County Extension, (712) 335-3103, weissj@iastate.edu
Sherry Hoyer, Iowa Pork Industry Center, (515) 294-4496, shoyer@iastate.edu
USDA Official to Speak at Country of Origin Labeling Program
AMES, Iowa -- The Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program currently provides retailers a voluntary way to notify their customers of the country of origin of several agricultural commodities, including pork, beef and lamb. However, this program will become mandatory for retailers on Sept. 30, 2004.
Because of this impending requirement and other specifications from several packer-processors to their respective producer clients, there is much uncertainty among livestock producers about their role and responsibilities in the process, according to Iowa State University (ISU) Extension swine field specialist Jerry Weiss. Producers need to understand the process and time line that the mandatory law will follow and what they can do to prepare. "It's not too early," Weiss said.
All livestock producers are invited to learn more about COOL at a satellite program June 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. The program will feature three speakers: William Sessions, associate deputy administrator of the Livestock and Seed Program for the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of USDA; ISU agricultural economist John Lawrence; and ISU Extension swine veterinarian James McKean.
The speakers will present information on the COOL program, including expectations of and implications for Iowa livestock producers, dates for mandatory participation in COOL and options for meeting COOL-related requirements. Weiss, who also is the program coordinator, said there will be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions of the speakers by telephone, fax and e-mail.
Cost of the program is $10 per person. The program will be available through a downlink at many ISU Extension county offices throughout the state. For more information and a link to the list of county offices that will host the program, check the Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC) Web site at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ipic/events.html or call IPIC at (800) 808-7675. Contact a county office directly for information on preregistration requirements at the specific location you wish to attend.
The program is sponsored by IPIC, Iowa Beef Center and ISU Extension and will originate from the ISU campus.
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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.