The National Farmers Union Board of Directors is opposing any changes to the Farm Bill through the just announced 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Act and they’re calling on Congress not to abandon COOL. Nebraska President John Hansen says they want Congress to preserve the integrity of the COOL program and the born, raised and processed in the USA label.

Hansen says in light of the action by Congress to avoid retaliation by Canada and Mexico they would like to see a voluntary program. He says they owe that to consumers.

As far as the budget, he says Congress has attempted to reopen the farm bill four times this year and its a five-year agreement that should provide policy certainty to agriculture.

Hansen says cuts to farm programs would undermine certainty at a time when farm income is rapidly eroding.