Country-of-Origin Labeling a Bright Spot in Failed Senate Farm Bill

Samantha CavePress Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Samantha Cave
Communications Coordinator
samantha@nffc.net
603-333-6281

Country-of-Origin Labeling a Bright Spot in Failed Senate Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 7, 2026 – In the wake of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s failure to advance a Farm Bill, the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) urges the Committee to go back to the drawing board and prioritize the urgent needs of family-scale farmers, ranchers, and fishers. 

“It’s long overdue for Congress to begin listening to their constituents on issues that most impact them,” said Tiffany Bellfield El-Amin, President of NFFC, Executive Director of the Kentucky Black Farmers Association, and Kentucky farmer. “NFFC is grateful for the inclusion of MCOOL as a positive signal that legislators are hearing farmers’ demands. However, the Senate Farm Bill draft still failed to support an agricultural system in ways that independent producers need to thrive. Farmers like me want a Farm Bill that works for us, not for the agribusiness executives pulling the strings behind the scenes. We will continue to work with legislators to create a Farm Bill that can meet these needs.”

As we’ve known for weeks now, the status-quo Senate Farm Bill draft did not meet the moment to address urgent crises — farmers going out of business, farmland affordability, unfair prices, credit access, corporate consolidation, processing constraints, and deepening hunger — faced by family-scale producers and their communities. Even so, yesterday’s meeting did provide the opportunity for lawmakers to offer amendments that reflect the priorities NFFC farmer-members have long asked for.  

NFFC celebrates Sen. Thune’s (R-SD) amendment in support of restoring mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (MCOOL) for beef, which passed successfully with 17 votes in favor. This win is a testament to the strong collective voice of independent farmers, ranchers, and consumers across the US who have advocated for fairness and transparency in the livestock market. Additionally, we recognize the following NFFC priorities that were submitted as amendments to the bill, but were not voted on:

  • Sen. Booker’s (D-NJ) amendment, based on the Farmland for Farmers Act, which would restrict purchases of farmland by investment corporations.
  • Sen. Grassley’s (R-IA) amendment, supported by Sens. Smith (D-MN) and Booker (D-NJ), which would codify three finalized rulemakings under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921.
  • Sen. Welch’s (D-VT) amendments, based on the Fair Credit for Farmers Act and the LOCAL Foods Act, which would improve access to credit and local meat-processing regulations, respectively

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Since 1986, the National Family Farm Coalition has been mobilizing independent farmers, ranchers, and fisher people to achieve fair prices, vibrant communities, and nourishing food free of corporate domination. Today, NFFC’s 30 member groups span more than 40 states and represent family farmers, ranchers, and fishermen across the United States. To learn more, visit www.nffc.net.