USDA Says Poultry Transparency Rule Will Not Be Delayed

USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says he is not going to concede to a group of lawmakers who want him to delay the implementation of new poultry contracting regulations, by 180 days. The rule aims to help poultry contract growers compete more effectively and better understand the terms of their agreements with major processing companies.

“They had multiple months of information about this to prepare for it. So I don't candidly I don't see any reason to extend the time period. I mean, they have plenty of time and it's not as if what's being asked is particularly onerous this is this is information they already have very easily available.”

The Transparency and Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments Rule is set to go into effect in February of 2024. And Secretary Vilsack adds that there needs to be more balance among poultry integrators. And this has been an issue for far too long.

“What we're not going to do is we're not going to delay the important work of providing a more balanced relationship between producers and integrators.”

The rule requires a live poultry dealer disclosure document that provides growers with information they need to have a better understanding of realistic outcomes they can expect before making important financial decisions. This rule updates the 100-year-old Packers and Stockyards Act, which regulates anti-competitive practices in the agriculture industry.