A food and water safety advocacy organization is crying foul over a decision by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to potentially rescind three Biden-era rules that the group says protect ranchers and farmers from unfair trade practices.
The USDA is delaying implementation of the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule, which was set to take effect on July 1, 2026.
The department also aims to rescind the Enforcing Trust Rights and the Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity which are both under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
A USDA spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.
Poultry rules reconsidered
USDA has postponed enactment of the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule until Dec. 31, 2027, saying it needs more time to consider the rule’s future.
The final rule, which was published in the Federal Register in January 2025, prohibits certain payment practices under ranking systems used to compensate broiler growers, who raise chickens for meat, and requires live poultry dealers to adopt fair ranking systems. It also requires dealers to disclose certain financial information before requiring growers to make capital investments that could affect poultry prices.
“These regulations will increase transparency and address deception and unfairness in broiler grower payments, tournament operations, and capital improvement systems,” USDA noted in its summary.
Food & Water Watch, an advocacy group, argues that the rule is designed “to prevent chicken companies from engaging in fundamentally unfair and deceptive practices against growers.”
Rescinding Packers & Stockyards Act rules
USDA also announced plans to rescind two Biden-era rules under the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921.
The Enforcing Trust Rights rule would establish procedures for enforcing statutory trust provisions, including appointment of an independent trustee. It would also define the trustee’s authority and responsibilities and outline USDA’s role if the agriculture secretary assumes that role in a dealer trust case.
USDA also suggests rescinding the Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity proposed rule, which was issued in March 2024 to prohibit certain unfair, discriminatory, retaliatory and deceptive practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
A warning from advocates
Food & Water Watch warns that the three rules “increase protections for livestock and poultry producers against discriminatory, retaliatory and deceptive trade practices that pervade the industry.”
The proposed rule changes come at a time of record consolidation in the meat and poultry industries, with four corporations controlling 85% of the beef market and 60% of the chicken market, according to the organization.
“For years, meat corporations have abused hardworking farmers and ranchers. Now, the Trump administration is proposing to undo long-overdue progress made to level the playing field. This move is a slap in the face to all those who have long fought for fair treatment in livestock and poultry markets,” said Food & Water Watch Staff Attorney Emily Miller in a written statement.
“We need robust enforcement of antitrust and fair trade practice laws to finally protect producers from meatpackers’ fundamentally unfair and illegal practices. These rollbacks will do the opposite. We won’t rest until USDA does its job by putting producers above corporations.”
