New rule strengthens P&S act to safeguard livestock producers
By Farms.com
The USDA, led by Secretary Tom Vilsack and joined by Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan Kanter, has announced a pivotal update to the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act).
This update introduces the "Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets" rule aimed at curbing unfair practices affecting family livestock producers. The rule proposes a clear framework for addressing grievances of producers who suffer due to manipulative practices by dominant meatpacking companies.
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew praised the update, highlighting its importance in providing transparent, robust, and enforceable rules that safeguard farmers from ongoing abuses in the agricultural market.
The NFU has been at the forefront with its Fairness for Farmers campaign, spotlighting the adverse effects of monopolistic practices on family farming.
This latest rule is the fourth in a series of updates aimed at strengthening the P&S Act, with prior amendments addressing discrimination, retaliation, and deceptive practices prevalent in the livestock and poultry sectors.
These changes reflect a continued effort by the USDA to ensure a fair market environment for small and medium-sized enterprises in agriculture, aligning with broader governmental goals of economic justice and market fairness for rural America.