Texas Farmers Union 

Office location:

111 N. Hasler Blvd. Suite 217

P.O. Box 1067                                          President Mike Oldham

Bastrop, TX. 78602         512-321-3955  

Email: tfunion@aol.com

www.tfunion.org 

Ban on Beef Imports from Paraguay:

Texas Farmers Union (TFU) supports the Congressional Review Act recently passed by the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support that would reinstate a long-standing ban on beef imports from Paraguay that was lifted in November 2023. TFU applauds the Senate for their recognition that this ban being lifted was a problem for cattle producers and consumers in the U.S. and now asks the House of Representatives to quickly take up the measure and pass it. The ban on beef imports from Paraguay will benefit U.S. cattle producer's consumers by protecting the safety of their food supply and also placing a value on supporting American farmers and ranchers when they go to the supermarket.

Thanks,

Texas Farmers Union

USDA’s “Product of USA” label:

USDA recently announced a long awaited new “Product of USA” labeling rule. USDA stated that starting in 2026 animal products would need to be born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S. to use the “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” labeling. Texas Farmers Union (TFU) supports this new labeling rule and sees it as a step in the right direction, but still asks for, Mandatory Country of Origin (MCOOL) on all food products. The new labeling rule addresses a loophole used by multinational meatpacking corporations that has allowed cattle born and raised in Mexico and Canada but slaughtered and packaged in the U.S. to be labeled “Made in the USA”, which undermines the U.S. beef market and cuts into U.S. ranchers paychecks. TFU believes in fair trade with our trading partners but feels that the U.S. farmers, ranchers and consumers should be the top priority when it comes to rulemaking and not what is in the best interest of multinational corporations or other countries.

Thanks,

Texas Farmers Union

 Texas Farmers Union opposes Mandatory Electronic Animal ID

USDA has been trying to implement mandatory electronic identification (EID) for over a decade behind the push from multi-national meat packing corporations and the rouse of food safety and traceability. They have failed to accomplish this from a push back from the American farmer and rancher every time that subject was brought up.

USDA is again trying to force their plan for all cattle producers to use EID ear tags on all adult cattle shipped across state lines. They have submitted a final rule for review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is a step closer to accomplishing their goal.

Texas Farmers Union (TFU) has always fought for farmers and ranchers to keep their right to a more profitable path in agriculture. TFU believes that the new rule would cause burdensome regulations and extra costs to the farmers and ranchers. The extra costs to farmers and ranchers from the tags themselves to the other infrastructure costs that more than likely will passed on to the farmer and rancher.

TFU believes that the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule that exist today covers the requirements needed to trace cattle movement. The rule requires all dairy cattle and adult beef cattle that cross state lines have some form of identification either in the form of electronic or low tech forms of ID. The new proposed rule would make EID the only form of ID allowed for cattle crossing state lines.

TFU and farmers and ranchers need your help by calling your Congressman/woman and Senators and tell them to stop USDA’s EID mandate. Call the Capital Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for them by name.

Thanks for your help and consideration.

Texas Farmers Union

Mike Oldham, President

David Schertz, Vice President