Agricultural Marketing Service June 10, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS or the Agency) is soliciting comments on proposed revisions to its regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (P&S Act or Act). The proposal would prohibit certain payment practices under poultry grower ranking systems (commonly known as tournaments) in contract poultry production for broiler chickens, require live poultry dealers (LPDs) to adopt policies and procedures for operating a fair ranking system for broiler growers, and require LPDs to provide certain information to broiler growers when the LPD requests or requires the grower to make additional capital investments (ACIs). AMS proposes these changes in response to numerous complaints from growers about the use of tournament systems. AMS intends for the proposed regulations to increase transparency and address deception and unfairness in broiler grower payments, tournament operations, and capital improvement systems.