I recently cast a vote that has some of my well-intentioned ranching friends saying I don't support Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). That couldn't be further from the truth, and if you sit down and look at the big picture, you'll understand what I mean.

As far back as 1999, I introduced legislation that would require origin labeling on meat products sold here in the United States. I also supported COOL's inclusion in the 2002 Farm Bill. Most recently, an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2005 Agricultural Appropriations Bill would have pushed forward the effective date of COOL to January of 2005. I opposed that amendment, and for good reason.

Many producers have already mapped out what 2005 will look like for them, and to radically change the playing field on such short notice is flat unfair. It's just not right to upset established ranch plans. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is still writing the rules for COOL. It is a very real possibility if the amendment had been adopted, COOL could have been in place before producers knew what was expected of them. Imagine the turmoil in our ranching communities as producers are breaking laws they can't follow.

I'm also concerned that the current version of COOL, to be effective in 2006, covers less than half the beef sold in the United States. If we're going to make this work, everyone has to play by the same rules whether it's the meat counter in the butcher shop, the pre-packaged patties in the freezer section, or the restaurant on the corner.

We also need to have a solid plan in place for animal identification. With the large number of cattle that move back and forth over our borders, we need solid rules to determine what makes that meat from Montana, Canada, or Argentina.

Bottom line is, I do support COOL, and I will continue to support COOL. I just want it to be done right the first time.

Conrad Burns is a U.S. Senator representing Montana.