Groups Urge USDA to Finalize Farmer Fair Practices Rule

Two farm groups are urging the Department of Agriculture to finalize the Farmer Fair Practices rule under the Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration. The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and the National Farmers Union say the rule will go into effect in less than three weeks, barring any setbacks from USDA. The two groups say the rule would protect family farmers and ranchers from abuse by concentrated markets. They are calling on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to allow the Farmer Fair Practices Rules, and an interim final rule on “competitive injury,” to be finalized.

The seven-year process to finalizing the rules, according to USCA and NFU, saw “industry groups funded by the meatpacking conglomerates stall their progress through backchannel legislative and regulatory means.”

Groups like the National Pork Producers Council oppose the rules because of concerns they will restrict producers’ ability to sell and packers’ ability to buy livestock and lead to further consolidation of the livestock industry.

Source:  NAFB News