The USDA has announced Friday (Jun 18) that it may limit pork producers' options in selling pigs to processors, in one of its proposed changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act contained in the 2008 Farm Bill.

The proposed rule, which was published Tuesday (Jun 22), would redefine what constitute an "undue or unreasonable preference or advantage" in a livestock contract.

"National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is carefully reviewing the proposal because we don't want to see producer marketing options limited by overly broad government regulations that negatively impact pork producers' bottom line," said NPPC President Sam Carney, a pork producer from Adair, Iowa.

The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) will consider comments on the proposed rule until August 23 2010.