MCOOL Left Out of Farm Bill, Farmers Union Reacts

April 29, 2026

Congress chose the best interests of multinational packers instead of American ranchers when they did not include mandatory country of origin labeling in the Farm Bill, said Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer.

 "Congress had an opportunity to put the American consumer and American rancher first," Schweitzer said "Instead, they chose to put the multinational packers first and the American consumer last."

 Schweitzer's statement comes after the House Rules Committee rejected the MCOOL amendment to the Farm Bill ahead of an expected vote in the House this week.

Montana Farmers Union last week urged Wyoming Representative Harriet Hageman and Montana Representative Ryan Zinke to submit Hageman's Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act to be amended into the Farm Bill. The bill would reinstate MCOOL, creating fair markets for ranchers and truthful labels for consumers.

 "MFU appreciates Congresswoman Hageman's efforts to get MCOOL in the Farm Bill, and encourages her to propose it as a stand alone bill," Schweitzer said.

 Learn more about why mandatory country of origin labeling is crucial to supporting ranchers and consumers at montanafarmersunion.com.

Source: Montana Farmers Union