What Happened: The Trump administration on Tuesday delayed until December 31, 2027, the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems rule, a Biden-era regulation finalized just six days before President Trump took office. It was set to go into effect on July 1, 2026. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the delay following a review of the rule’s potential impact on the poultry industry and consumers.
Why it Matters: The rule would have effectively banned performance-based bonuses for chicken farmers, requiring all growers to be paid the same rate regardless of their hard work, investments, housing conditions, or bird welfare practices. AMS acknowledged that even a small drop in production efficiency under the rule could result in significantly higher broiler costs — ultimately hitting consumers at the grocery store.
NCC’s Take: NCC strongly supports the delay. “We applaud Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for their thoughtful review of this Biden-era regulation and for listening to chicken farmers across the country who oppose it,” said NCC President Harrison Kircher. “This regulation threatened to dismantle an efficient and successful industry model that has worked well for decades and helps keep chicken affordable.” NCC has long argued that performance-based pay rewards hard work, encourages the best bird welfare practices, and keeps experienced growers in the industry. Our press release supporting AMS’s announcement can be found here.
