United States
President Donald Trump has delayed implementation of legislation to make it
easier for farmers to sue contractors for whom they grow chickens, pigs and
other livestock.
The law was passed
in 2010, but not implemented until outgoing president Barack Obama
set April 22 as the start date.
The rule would
make it easier for farmers to sue companies they contract with over unfair,
discriminatory or deceptive practices. Currently, several court rulings have
interpreted federal law as saying a farmer must prove a company's actions harm
competition in the entire industry before a lawsuit can move forward.
The rule eases
that high burden of proof.
For years some
chicken growers who enter long-term contracts with companies like Tyson Foods
and Pilgrim's Pride have alleged the industry locks them into deals that fix
their compensation at unprofitably low levels and forces them deeply into debt.
