South Dakota Farmers Union members are rallying in Watertown Friday afternoon in support of Country of Origin Labeling. State Farmers Union President, Doug Sombke, says his group is concerned the administration is turning its back on the law. He says recent comments by Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack, that there are no economic benefits to COOL, seem to indicate that.
COOL opponents have been concerned that both Canada and Mexico, important trading partners of the U.S., will retaliate against the U.S. due to the COOL law. Sombke says both sides are awaiting a WTO ruling due in just a few weeks. He says if it’s against the U.S., there’s still time to fix the law.
Sombke is hoping they’ll be able to get President Obama’s attention when he speaks in Watertown this afternoon. The rally will be at Belmont Park from 2 to 4 p.m.
