(NAFB.com) – The Department of Agriculture Tuesday announced the finalization of Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
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The final rule will be effective 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. The final rule, Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act, establishes clearer, more effective standards for prohibited practices relating to discrimination, retaliation, and deception in contracting.

USDA says this will help producers and growers that have suffered from increasingly consolidated markets over the last 30 years by enhancing market integrity and ensuring fair access to economic opportunities. National Farmers Union President Rob Larew responded, “Today’s announcement is the culmination of years of work from NFU and supporters of equitable livestock markets.”

The final rule comes on the heels of a successful effort by NFU and allied organizations to keep a harmful policy rider out of the FY 2024 appropriations agreement. Such a rider would have thrown out existing rules, prevented future rulemakings and blocked USDA from making similar progress on the Packers and Stockyards Act, according to NFU.