President Trump directed government agencies to delay new rule implementation by 60 days. The Farmer Fair Practices rules, which includes three separate documents, was among those delayed.
The first is an interim final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), allowing individual farmers and ranchers to challenge processor contracting and buying practices. Prior to this rule, farmers must prove harm to the entire industry in order to substantiate a violation of GIPSA rules.
The other two GIPSA rule proposals set parameters for poultry grower ranking systems, such as a tournament, and give clarity to what GIPSA considers unfair, unjustly discriminatory or deceptive practices that would be viewed as a violation of the act.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has supported the proposed rule “stating the Agriculture Department’s Farmer Fair Practices Rules take an important step toward leveling the playing field in the poultry industry by ensuring companies follow the law and treat farmers fairly, without disrupting beef and pork markets.”
These rules are temporarily on hold and under evaluation by stakeholders. The comment period ends Feb. 20, and AFBF has requested a 120-day extension.
Another final rule proposal from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is set to tighten animal welfare regulations for organic products. It expands the outdoor access requirement for organic poultry and covered porches would no longer be sufficient to meet the requirement. Poultry would be required to have direct contact with the ground, which many argue could increase exposure to disease and predators.
In addition to housing standards, the proposed rule clarifies existing requirements that cover care and production practices. The comment period ends March 20.