The Obama administration is proposing new regulations to "level the playing field" between poultry farmers and the few processing companies that dominate the market, but the National Chicken Council countered that the new rules would upend the industry and cost jobs.

In a news release, the U.S. Department of Agriculture noted that the nation's four largest processors control more than half of broiler and turkey markets. This lack of competition hurts farmers, who may have only one or two processors in their state who will purchase their poultry, according to the agency.

"All too often, processors and packers wield the power, and farmers carry the risk," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "Today, USDA is taking a big step toward providing the protections that farmers deserve and need."

The new rules would make it easier for farmers to prove they were harmed by processors who used their domination of the market to force unfair terms for poultry sales. http://bit.ly/2hxpl2F

The National Chicken Council—which represents processors—said in a statement the new rules were unnecessary.

"The vast majority of chicken farmers in rural America are happy and prosper raising chickens in partnership with companies, and they don't want the government meddling on their farms and telling them how they should run their businesses," council President Mike Brown said.

While the new rules are being proposed by the Obama administration, they now undergo a 60-day comment period, meaning the incoming Trump administration will ultimately decide whether to enforce them. http://bit.ly/2hD2see

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