The United States Department of Agriculture is in the process of rewriting the GIPSA rules formerly known as the farmer Fair practice Rules. This week, an Ag Coalition led by the Organization for Competitive Markets asked for stringent producer protections in those new rules. Iowa Pork Producers Association CEO Pat McGonegle says their watching that process and want to make sure pork producers aren’t limited with their opportunity to sell to or contract with processors.
He says whatever rules the USDA comes out with needs to be structured properly so as not to hamper normal business practices.
McGonegle isn’t surprised that the USDA is taking its time formulating the rules. He also says Iowa Pork and their National group will be weighing in whenever the comment period is held on those.
The USDA is following a court order that directed them to rewrite the Farmer Fair Practice rules after the Ag Secretary threw the original regulations out.
