Updated Poultry Tournament Rule Provides Needed Transparency

Smith: The American Farm Bureau Federation calls a new USDA rule under the Packers & Stockyards Act a step in the right direction. Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy with AFBF, says the rule includes changes AFBF has long advocated for.

Kieffer: The final rule includes flexible provisions for a more transparent [payment system] and a predictable payment structure for contract poultry growers. The rule also requires capital investment disclosures be provided to the growers by the integrators when expensive updates or modifications for the existing structures are required.

Smith: Kieffer says the rule is meant to level the playing field.

Kieffer: This rule will help growers by providing a fair environment in which to operate, and these changes allow the market to set the prices that will give contract growers more certainty with base prices that they can rely on.

Smith: Kieffer says there will be a bit of delay before implementation.

Kieffer: This rule will go into effect July, 1 of 2026. And we are expecting that there might be some efforts by some in Washington to delay or to nullify this rule, but Farm Bureau is committed to seeing that this rule actually goes into effect in July of '26 intact to help our poultry growers all across the country.

Smith: Learn more at fb.org/news. Chad Smith, Washington.