For the provisions that were left out, USDA-GIPSA originally planned
to seek additional public comment on several other revised provisions from the June 22, 2010 proposed rule including changes to the tournament system of payment for poultry growers, requirements to collect and post sample contracts and to address the issue of need for producers to show harm to competition prior to asserting a violation of the Packer and Stockyards Act. However, the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill passed by Congress included language prohibiting the Department from moving forward on these important provisions.
The final rule will become effective 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register (it is scheduled to be published on 12/9/11).
During the comment period last year, the National Agricultural Law Center presented a series of workshops for producers that discussed the proposed rules. To access the handouts and powerpoint from those workshops, please click here