WHAT HAPPENED: USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) on Monday officially announced in the Federal Register an 18-month delay of the “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems” rule, which was set to go into effect on July 1, 2026. AMS proposed the delay in March after reviewing the rule’s potential costs to 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: We strongly support the delay. “I want to thank Secretary Rollins for delaying this Biden-era regulation, which was published less than one week before President Trump was inaugurated,” said NCC President Harrison Kircher. “This rule threatened to dismantle an efficient and successful industry model that rewards farmers and helps keep chicken affordable for American consumers. We applaud the Trump administration’s decision to delay this rule and urge its full recission.” Our March press release supporting AMS’s announcement can be found here.
WHAT HAPPENED: The House of Representatives yesterday — by a vote of 213-210 — passed its version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agency Appropriations Act of 2027. The bill funds agricultural and food programs and services, including food and medical product safety, animal and plant health programs, rural development and farm services, marketplace oversight and nutrition programs. A summary of the bill is available here.
WHY IT MATTERS: The bill passed with two provisions included that are supported by NCC and important to the broiler industry. The first would rescind several Biden-era Packers and Stockyards regulations, including: the final rule entitled “Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments;” the final rule entitled “Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act;” the final rule entitled “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems;” and the proposed rule entitled “Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets.”
A separate provision would allow surplus broiler hatching eggs to be sold into the breaker market, similar to NCC’s past petitions and bills introduced in Congress.
NCC’s TAKE: NCC advocated for the inclusion of these two provisions, urged final passage of the bill, and we are pleased it contains support for a number of chicken producers’ priorities. “I want to thank Chairmen Cole and Harris for their leadership and for getting this bill over the finish line in the House,” said NCC President Harrison Kircher.
WHAT ELSE IS IN THE BILL: $1.226 billion for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which is $10.8 million above the FY26 enacted level, to fund meat and poultry inspectors.
WHAT’s NEXT: The Senate will take up its version of the spending bill, but the timeframe is unknown.
Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) speaks the committee mark-up of the bill
WHAT HAPPENED: Rabobank’s RaboResearch division published a new report, “Protein Economics: How Nutrient Density Can Support Premium Packaged Goods in the US,” examining the growing role of nutrient density in consumer purchasing decisions and how food manufacturers are responding. The report identifies protein as the “winning nutrient” in today’s packaged food landscape and introduces the concept of “protein economics” — evaluating food purchases based on protein delivered per calorie and per dollar spent.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR CHICKEN: Chicken is one of the best values in the entire grocery store when evaluated through the lens of protein economics — and this report makes that case in economic and not nutritional terms. The report finds that consumers are increasingly asking not “how many calories is this?” but “what do I get for those calories?” and “what am I actually paying per gram of protein?” By that measure, chicken wins handily.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Several structural forces are converging to make this moment particularly important for the chicken industry. The report points to the rapid adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, which reduce appetite and increase consumer focus on getting maximum nutrition from fewer calories — making high-protein, lean foods like chicken even more attractive. It also highlights the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which boosted recommended protein intake by as much as 100% over prior editions, and notes that 83% of US consumers now report reading food labels before purchasing. Meanwhile, prolonged food inflation has made shoppers more value-conscious, further elevating chicken’s reputation as an affordable, high-quality protein.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Rabobank report suggests that nutrient density is “just getting started” as a framework shaping how consumers, retailers, and manufacturers evaluate food. The report predicts that label-scanning apps, evolving dietary guidelines, and continued GLP-1 adoption will further amplify consumer focus on protein content per calorie and per dollar.
Deputy Under Secretary Vaden, addressing the NCC Board in January
“Reducing ultra-processed food in schools doesn’t necessarily have to result from more scratch cooking. What it does mean is purchasing more whole food items and fewer items that have already been pre-seasoned or otherwise processed. More fruits and vegetables, more whole meats, fewer things like pizza and what have you, which may be popular on certain days — they certainly were when I was in elementary school — but aren’t necessarily the best for you.”
— Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Vaden Tuesday at a Wall Street Journal Global Food Forum
L-R: John Crowgey, Farm Credit Bank of Baltimore; Scott Andrews, Allied Bank of Texas; Victor Fontane, Corbett Enterprises; Roger Barr, Rabobank Netherlands; Carl Blackham, Bank of America. NCC Annual Conference 1984.
NCC’s Washington Report will resume on Friday, June 19. We look forward to seeing many members next week in Jackson Hole for NCC’s Summer Board of Directors meeting! Safe travels!
WHAT HAPPENED: NCC this week filed comments with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in response to the agency’s proposal to revisit how it classifies meat and poultry establishments as “large,” “small,” or “very small.” NCC’s comments call on FSIS to amend the 30-year-old employee headcount method and replace it with a production volume-based system — and to add a new “medium” category to better reflect how the industry actually operates today.
WHY IT MATTERS: The way FSIS categorizes a plant affects everything from how new regulations are introduced to what resources and support a facility can access. The current system counts employees — a metric that made sense in 1996 but has become increasingly outdated as automation has enabled plants to produce far more with fewer workers. Under today’s rules, a highly automated facility and a small family operation can end up in the same “small” bucket, even though their scales, complexities, and regulatory needs may differ significantly.
WHAT NCC IS ASKING FOR: NCC recommended that FSIS use data it already collects — production volume in pounds per day — to build a new four-tier classification system tailored separately for each species (chicken, turkey, beef, pork, etc.). We also urged the agency to update those classifications at least annually so that plants are placed in the right category should their operations grow or change. For administrative purposes like grant eligibility or reduced inspection fees, we said revenue-based metrics can play a limited role — but shouldn’t be used for regulatory classification.
THE BOTTOM LINE: NCC supports FSIS taking a fresh look at this system and sees it as an opportunity to make oversight smarter and more efficient. Getting the classifications right means small plants get the support they need, and agency resources go where they’ll have the most impact on food safety.
WHAT HAPPENED: On the eve of World Hunger Day, Tuesday, a broad coalition of farmers, protein producers, hunger advocates, and government partners officially launched the Coalition to Close the Protein Gap — a $40 million public-private initiative aimed at permanently eliminating America’s annual 800-million-pound charitable protein shortfall. NCC is among the supporting organizations backing the effort, which is led by HATCH, the nation’s largest nonprofit focused on protein insecurity, and includes federal partners HHS and USDA. The goal: deliver up to 3 billion protein-rich meals to American families every year.
WHY IT MATTERS: Protein is the single most requested item in the charitable food system — yet it accounts for only 14 percent of food distributed through that system. The biggest obstacle isn’t supply; it’s the cold-chain infrastructure needed to move protein from farm to food bank reliably and at scale. This initiative pairs America’s existing agricultural capacity with the funding and logistics network to finally bridge that gap on a permanent, self-sustaining basis.
WHO’S INVOLVED: The coalition brings together a cross-section of the protein industry, including Cargill, Tyson Foods, Perdue Farms, Koch Foods, Case Farms, Mountaire Farms, Simmons Foods, and Wayne-Sanderson Farms, among others. Supporting organizations include NCC alongside the American Egg Board, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation, and others. Tony Robbins, through his 100 Billion Meals Challenge, is serving as a public advocate for the effort.
HOW IT WORKS: Infrastructure and logistics will be managed by HATCH, which has spent a decade sourcing protein directly from U.S. farmers and delivering it through a cold-chain network to 120 food banks nationwide — without relying on ongoing donations. The $40 million in coalition funding will expand cold storage capacity and distribution infrastructure to operate at the scale needed to close the gap entirely.
WHAT HAPPENED: Registration is open for the 2026 Chicken Marketing Summit, scheduled for July 27-29 at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. But early bird rates — offering savings of $200 per registrant — end this Sunday on May 31.
WHY IT MATTERS: The Chicken Marketing Summit is the premier annual conference for poultry marketing and sales executives, bringing together leaders from across the chicken supply chain — from processors and retailers to foodservice operators and allied industry partners. The event is produced by WATT Global Media in collaboration with NCC and remains a member benefit for NCC processor and allied member companies. NCC members also receive $100 off registration.
WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA: The 2026 Summit will center on the theme “The Protein Moment,” examining how protein-first eating trends, clean-label consumer preferences, and the rise of GLP-1 drugs are reshaping demand for chicken. The conference features 1.5 days of presentations, two evening receptions, and multiple networking opportunities. Confirmed speakers include Kevin Ryan of Malachite Strategy and Research on the GLP-1/high-protein consumer opportunity; Christine McCracken of Rabobank on forces reshaping the broiler industry; Erkin Peksoz of Circana presenting the annual Consumer Chicken Consumption Survey results; and Maeve Webster of Menu Matters on QSR innovation trends, among others.
BONUS INCENTIVE: Registrants before May 31 are automatically entered for a chance to win access to the VIP Hospitality Suite at the 2027 Valspar Championship, also held at Innisbrook Resort. The winner will be announced at the Summit in July.
WHAT’S NEXT: The early bird rate expires May 31. Retail grocery and foodservice executives qualify for complimentary registration with a refundable $150 deposit. The hotel room block at the group rate of $169 per night closes July 7. Register at cvent.me/OyKow8.
