The Farmer Fair Practices Rules have been delayed as part of the White House order to delay regulatory actions. Per the “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” memo issued on Jan. 20, along with subsequent guidance, the Agriculture Department’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration has published new dates for comment deadlines and effective date for the rules published in December.

The effective date of the interim final rule for “Scope of Sections 202(a) and (b) of the Packers and Stockyards Act” has been extended to April 22 with written comments due March 24. Comment deadlines for two proposed rules (Poultry Grower Ranking Systems, and Unfair Practices and Undue Preferences in Violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act) have been extended to March 24.

The new dates do not reflect requests for delays submitted by stakeholders—only the White House freeze order. AFBF has requested a 120-day delay on the effective date of the interim final rule, as well as 120-day extensions to comment deadlines for both proposed rules.