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Grassley presses USDA on delay of poultry grower payment rule
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins faced questions Wednesday over USDA’s delay of a poultry grower payment rule.
In late May, the USDA delayed the effective date of the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule from this July 1st to December 31st of 2027.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley brought up the issue during a Senate Ag Committee hearing.
“During your confirmation hearing I brought up this rule and the others finalized that were finalized under the previous administration,” Grassley said. “I said then that the Packers and Stockyards Act is the most effective tool to make sure that the marketplace works for the American farmers.”
The Iowa Republican asked the secretary if delaying the rule will help small family poultry farmers.
Rollins said, “I do know there were some real concerns with the way the Biden team wrote the rule. And there were some real concerns with the profitability and ensuring we are protecting all American agriculture. But let me go back and dig in a little bit more.”
Grassley indicated the USDA’s data shows a large portion of the poultry industry is against the delay.
“One large poultry integrator and two meat and poultry trade associations support the delay,” Grassley said. “But the real poultry growers and grower organizations oppose this proposal.”
According to a May 28th notice from USDA, the delay “is in alignment with Congressional direction, and given the significant estimated costs, policy and legal issues commenters identified with the Payment Systems final rule, a delayed effective date of Dec. 31, 2027, will allow for thorough consideration of these matters.”
Rollins said the poultry rule is a “Biden-era rule” and the agency needs more time to review it.
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