Organic Rules for Livestock Producers Expanded

The USDA announced an expansion of rules for organic pork producers which includes changes in how producers must treat livestock and poultry producers, specifying which physical alterations are allowed and how much space must be available indoors and outdoors.

National Pork Producers Council President John Weber called the new regulations executive overreach noting, “The standards seem to be based on public perception – or USDA’s understanding of that perception – of what good animal welfare is and don’t reflect a consensus by experts in animal welfare and handling.”

Weber says the new regulations will make it more difficult for livestock producers to handle their animals and complicates the organic certification process and he hopes to work with the Trump Administration to repeal the rules.

You can find the full rules update at regulations.gov.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.