U.S. Food Security. Farmer Fair Practices Rules.. FARM BILL Preliminaries

Tell USDA to Restore Fairness for Farmers and Ranchers

	Action Alert
Dear friends & allies, After being blocked and delayed for years by Congress, the Obama Administration published new Farmer Fair Practices Rules in its final days and launched another public comment period. USDA heard, again, from family farmers and ranchers that these rules are essential to level the playing field between independent livestock producers and big packers. On April 11, despite widespread support from independent producers, USDA caved to industry pressure and delayed the effective date of the interim final rule on competitive injury for 180 days, until October 19. USDA has opened yet another comment period on one of the three rules, the interim final competitive injury rule, and is asking the public to vote on what should happen to this rule: let it become effective, suspend the rule indefinitely, delay the effective date further, or withdraw the rule. The competitive injury rule includes essential safeguards to restore fairness for producers seeking justice under the Packers and Stockyards Act.   Under the interim final competitive injury rule, ranchers contesting unfair meatpacker contracting and buying practices would not have to prove a practice harms the whole market to prove the practice is unfair. Take action today and tell USDA that the competitive injury rule must become effective on October 19. Comments are due June 12, 2017. Here’s how you can submit your comment: Step 1 Copy one of the draft comments below (or write your own): Draft Comment 1 I am writing to provide comments with regard to 9 CFR Part 201, Federal Register Number 2017-07361, posted on April 12, 2017. I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to let the Interim Final Rule on Competitive Injury to become effective on October 19. This long-overdue rule takes important steps to ensure that ranchers and farmers are treated fairly and have some safeguards against unfair buying and marketing practices from meatpackers. Draft Comment 2 I am writing to provide comments with regard to 9 CFR Part 201, Federal Register Number 2017-07361, posted on April 12, 2017. The competitive injury rule is necessary to restore fairness for producers seeking justice under the Packers and Stockyards Act. I urge USDA to let the rule become effective On October 19. Draft Comment 3 I am writing to provide comments with regard to 9 CFR Part 201, Federal Register Number 2017-07361, posted on April 12, 2017. I strongly urge USDA to allow the Interim Final Rule (IFR) to go into effect, without any further delay. It’s time to restore the original intent of the Packers & Stockyards Act. Step 2 Paste your comment on this page: https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=GIPSA_FRDOC_0001-0398 Step 3 – Submit the Comment Add any additional information you’d like to include, and click on the “Continue” button. On the next page, confirm you’ve read the statement and click on the “Submit Comment” button. If you have any trouble submitting your comment, please click here to email Rachel Zatterstrom.
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