Washington, D.C., March 17, 2026 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) took action to delay the effective date of the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027.
USDA published the final rule Under the Biden Administration on January 16, 2025, that amended 9 CFR Part 201 of its regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act) (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.). The final rule was promulgated in support of the Biden Executive Order 14036 (86 Fed. Reg. 36987 (July 9, 2021)), which was revoked by President Trump via Executive Order 14337 on August 13, 2025. (90 Fed. Reg. 40227 (August 13, 2025)). This action is also in alignment with Congressional direction, and given the significant estimated costs, policy, and legal issues associated with the final rule, the Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking public comment on delaying the effective date of the final rule to December 31, 2027, to allow for thorough consideration of these matters.
The final rule: (1) prohibits livestock poultry dealers (LPDs) from reducing a grower’s compensation based on the grower’s ranking under a poultry grower ranking system; (2) establishes a presumptive violation of the P&S Act by LPDs when aggregate gross annual payments based upon a grower’s ranking under a poultry grower ranking system exceeds a certain threshold; (3) holds LPDs to a duty of fair comparison when designing and operating their poultry grower ranking system and requires documentation of compliance with that duty; and (4) requires LPDs to provide certain disclosures when requesting or requiring that broiler growers make additional capital investments.
For more information, view Federal Register link.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.