Swine Morsels

Swine Morsels XIV (Country of Origin Labeling - COOL)

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By Dr. Monte Fuhrman - Veterinarian
Published: Sep. 05, 2008

Fellow Sioux Nationers:

I made four phone calls this morning on behalf of a client.  He wants to know if area packers are going to purchase Canadian origin piglets/pigs when COOL is implemented.  So far the answer is as follows.
 
John Morrell’s/Smithfield Foods:                                                                                                NO
Swift and Company:  As of now, and until final rulings come through,                                          NO
Hormel Foods:  Unknown until final wording in farm bill or else where.  As of now,                       NO
Sioux Preme Packing Co.:  They will likely, though not necessarily figure out a way to do it          YES
 
 
You can see that as of this moment, three of the four major packers in our area will not kill Canadian origin pigs after September 1, 2008.  Isoweans being received right now will mostly fit into the marketing time frame to be able to be used.  There are currently 171 days left to implementation of COOL.  Some of the slower growing piglets will already be OUT of the marketing window.  Hence, our producers, if no wording, delays, or changes occur in law, will not be able to market the Canadian origin piglets to three of these four packers.  I would sure suggest getting Canadian origin hogs lined up in the shackles if they are still buying them at Sioux Preme.
 
Everything may change in an instant with a re-wording allowance on a label or another delay in implementation of COOL.