The withdrawal of the GIPSA Farmer Fair Practice Rules is likely to stick. That’s according to Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, proponent of the rules, who says it’s unlikely Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue will reverse his decision and implement the measure designed to provide market protections for farmer and ranchers.
Grassley and Senator Jon Tester of Montana wrote to the Ag Secretary asking him to move forward with the rules, but he thinks the effort fell on deaf ears. He says the major intent of the rule was to protect contract growers.
Grassley says the Farmer Fair Practice Rules are needed because of farmers mistreatment by large ag companies and that’s what prompted the legislation.
Agriculture groups were split on the GIPSA rules. NPPC and NCBA are hailing the withdrawal, while OCM and NFU are disappointed they won’t be implemented.
