Wednesday the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its finalized GIPSA rules. They are intended to level the playing field and protect contract swine, beef cattle and poultry growers from unfair treatment from the companies that they work with. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the Farmer Fair Practices regulations include two proposed rules and one interim final rule.

Two proposed rules deal with the poultry grower ranking system and are designed to fix the unfair bargaining power being used in the market today.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson joined the Secretary for the announcement. He says the rules will address unfair competition in the marketplace.

Vilsack says the rules are about consistency and put the grower and meat packer on the same level. The Farmer Fair Practice Rules are now under a 60-day public comment period.\\