Proposed USDA Contract Poultry Rules Promise to Level the Playing Field for Farmers

For Immediate Release:
June 18, 2010

For More Information Contact:
Becky Ceartas: (919) 621-8453, Steve Etka: (703) 519-7772
Newly Released Rules Enact Key 2008 Farm Bill Reforms to Protect Growers

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released proposed rules that would provide poultry growers with key protections that would mitigate unfair contract provisions that are all too common in the poultry industry.

Poultry growers air complaints

Food & Water Watch 

Daryll E. Ray

“Tom Terry, a former grower from Tennessee, told us a similar story. He said that after loading up the chickens from one of his barns he followed the company trucks to the plant so he could watch them being weighed on the scales at the processing plant. He was prevented from doing so.”

June 4, 2010

This year, the Obama administration is holding a series of five hearings across the nation to explore competition issues affecting the agricultural sector in the 21st century and the appropriate role for antitrust and regulatory enforcement in that industry. The second of these workshops, conducted jointly by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), was held at Alabama A&M University in Normal, Alabama.

The May 21, 2010 workshop was led by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and US Attorney General Eric Holder. The hearing focused on issues in the poultry industry, and featured panel discussions on poultry grower issues and trends in poultry production. And, it also included opportunities for public comments.

“All players in the poultry industry deserve an honest chance at success, and that requires a fair, viable, and competitive marketplace,” said Vilsack. “Today’s conversation helped bring a better understanding of the issues impacting growers on a daily basis and provided an opportunity to openly discuss some of the ideas that have been raised to address these concerns.”