Proposed Delay of Poultry Grower Payment Systems Effective Date

Content

ACTION:

Proposed delay of effective date; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS or the Agency) is proposing to delay the effective date of the Poultry Grower Payment
Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule published in the
Federal Register
on January 16, 2025, to allow time for further consideration of possible actions that may be taken regarding the disposition
of the rule. The current effective date is July 1, 2026. AMS is proposing to delay the effective date to December 31, 2027.

DATES:

Comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before April 17, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Comments can be submitted through the Federal e-rulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov and should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this issue of the
Federal Register
. AMS prefers comments be submitted electronically. However, written comments may be submitted (i.e., postmarked) via mail to Docket No. AMS-FTPP-22-0046, Jeana Harbison, Acting Director, Packers and Stockyards Division, USDA,
AMS, FTPP Room 2097-S, Mail Stop 3601, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-3601. All comments submitted in response
to this proposed action will be included in the record and will be made available to the public. Please be advised the identity
of individuals or entities submitting comments will be made public on the internet at the address provided above. Parties
who wish to comment anonymously may do so by entering “N/A” in the fields identifying the commenter. Comments are posted to regulations.gov as submitted, without change. As required by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4), a plain language summary of the proposed rule is also available
on the Federal e-rulemaking portal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeana Harbison, Acting Director, Packers and Stockyards Division, USDA, AMS, Fair Trade Practices Program, 1400 Independence
Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250; telephone: 202-720-7051; email: Jeana.M.Harbison@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

On January 16, 2025, AMS published the final rule, “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems” (Payment
Systems rule or final rule) (90 FR 5146, January 16, 2025,), to amend 9 CFR part 201 of its regulations under the Packers
and Stockyards Act (P&S Act) (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.). The final rule was promulgated in support of Executive Order 14036 (86 FR 36987, July 14, 2021), which Executive Order
14337 revoked on August 13, 2025 (90 FR 40227, August 19, 2025).

The final rule: (1) prohibits livestock poultry dealers (LPDs) from reducing a grower's compensation based on the grower's ranking under a
poultry grower ranking system; (2) establishes a presumptive violation of the P&S Act by LPDs when aggregate gross annual
payments based upon a grower's ranking under a poultry grower ranking system exceeds a certain threshold; (3) holds LPDs to
a duty of fair comparison when designing and operating their poultry grower ranking system and requires documentation of compliance
with that duty; and (4) requires LPDs to provide certain disclosures when requesting or requiring that broiler growers make
additional capital investments.

At the time of publication, AMS estimated the final rule would result in significant costs to both LPDs and poultry growers
with no quantifiable benefits. (1) AMS acknowledged it could not rule out the possibility of increased compliance costs, fewer growers participating in the market,
and/or reduced production efficiencies, all of which could lead to higher consumer prices. (2)

In the explanatory statement accompanying the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction
and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (Pub. L. 119-37), (3) Congress encouraged the Department to delay implementation of the final rule. (4)

In alignment with Congressional direction, and given the significant estimated costs, and the policy and legal issues associated
with the final rule, AMS is seeking public comment on delaying the effective date of the final rule to December 31, 2027,
to allow for thorough consideration of these matters.

B. Executive Order 12866

This proposed rule has been determined to be “significant” under Executive Order 12866, as supplemented by Executive Orders
13563 and 14192, and, therefore, has been accordingly reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As a required
part of the regulatory process, AMS prepared an economic analysis of the costs and benefits of delaying the effective date
of §§ 201.106, 110, 112, and 290.

AMS proposes to delay the effective date of the Payment Systems rule. The Payment Systems rule created four specific provisions
including: § 201.106 regarding LPD responsibilities for the design of broiler grower compensation arrangements; § 201.110
regarding the fair operation of broiler grower ranking systems; § 201.112 regarding disclosure requirements for LPDs when
requesting additional capital investments from

  broiler growers; and § 201.290 regarding severability.

Reason for the Proposed Rule

AMS is proposing to delay the effective day of the Payment Systems rule to allow for thorough consideration of estimated costs
and the policy and legal issues associated with the final rule.

When AMS finalized the Payment Systems rule, AMS explained there was uncertainty as to whether the benefits would outweigh
the costs. (5) One factor that was difficult to determine was whether the provision that prevents LPDs from applying performance discounts
(§ 201.106(a)) and the provision capping variation in performance premiums (§ 201.106(b)) would impact grower incentives.
Research indicates growers tend to raise broilers more efficiently with tournament contracts than with other forms of contracts
or when LPDs raise broilers in their own facilities. (6) However, there is no literature addressing how growers' incentives might change if performance discounts were not part of
the tournament or if variability in performance payments were limited. If changes to tournament contracts due to the Payment
Systems rule's amendments to subpart N result in even very small decreases in feed efficiency, costs from implementation of
the amendments could be considerably larger than the value of the benefits to growers due to reduced variability in compensation.

Benefit-Cost Analysis

AMS prepared an economic analysis of the costs and benefits of delaying the effective date of §§ 201.106, 110, 112, and 290.
AMS estimated cost and benefits associated with the Payment Systems rule when it was made final in 2025. AMS provided quantitative
estimates of direct administrative costs associated with the Payment Systems rule, and qualitative descriptions of indirect
costs and benefits. This analysis follows the same analytical approach used in the final rule. AMS invites comments and data
concerning the benefits and costs of delaying the effective date of the Payment Systems rule.

The updated estimates incorporate the latest industry parameters and wage rates while maintaining consistency with the methodology
used. Hourly wage rates were established using the following Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifications for each labor
category as follows (NAICS Code—OCC code—OCC Title): Management (3116—11-1020—General and Operations Managers) for live poultry
dealers' managers, and Legal (3110—23-1011—Lawyers) for attorneys. (7) The average hourly wage rates used to estimate cost savings were updated from the final rule to include a 42.34 percent markup
for benefits and are as follows: Management—$102.56, Legal—$145.93, Administrative—$48.38, and Information Technology—$101.72.
For reference, the analysis in the final rule is described in detail in the
Federal Register
at 90 FR 5146 (see pages 5189-5206). (8)

AMS expects that LPDs would incur $4.9 million in ongoing administrative costs for each of the first four years after the
Payment Systems rule becomes effective and $4.1 million annually thereafter. Poultry growers would have approximately $249,000
in ongoing quantified administrative costs each year. Total ongoing administrative costs would be $5.2 million for the four
years and $4.3 million thereafter.

Regulatory Alternatives Considered

AMS considered three alternatives to the proposed delay of §§ 201.106, 110, 112, and 290. The first alternative is the “do
nothing” approach or maintaining the status quo. All regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act would remain unchanged; that is, the Payment Systems rule would become
effective on July 1, 2026. This first alternative forms the baseline against which AMS compares the other alternatives.

The second alternative is this proposed rule. AMS proposes to delay the effective date of the Payment Systems rule for 18
months. If finalized, the Payment Systems rule would become effective on December 31, 2027, rather than July 1, 2026.

AMS considered a third alternative, the 12-Month Delay alternative, which is similar to the preferred alternative, and proposes
to delay the effective date of §§ 201.106, 110, 112, and 290 by 12 months (July 1, 2027) instead of 18 months (December 31,
2027).

Direct Quantified Benefits of the Proposed 18-Month Delay of §§ 201.106, 110, 112, and 290—Preferred Alternative

With the proposed 18-month delay of the Poultry Systems rule, much of the first-year costs in the final rule that AMS considered
are one-time setup and preparation activities that processors and growers would incur before the rule became effective. AMS
believes many of these costs have likely already occurred, and therefore they are not affected by the delay; however, AMS
welcomes comments for the industry related to these costs during the comment period of this proposed rule. The delay would
affect recurring costs. The delay would save live poultry growers and LPDs administrative costs associated with the ongoing
administrative costs that would otherwise occur in the first 18 months after the Payment Systems rule becomes effective.

Delaying the effective date for 18 months would shift all costs for both LPDs and growers back by 18-months. This proposed
rule would enable LPDs to save $4.9 million and poultry growers to save $249,000 in administrative costs for a total of $5.2
million in the first year. They would save an additional $2.5 million and $125,000, respectively, in the second year for a
total of $7.7 million. Administrative costs for LPDs were expected to decrease by $800,000 in the fifth year after the rule
became effective. If the effective date is delayed 18 months, the decrease in costs will be delayed as well. Costs would be
$800,000 higher in the fifth year and $400,000 in the sixth year for LPDs. This would result in a ten-year total cost savings
of $6.1 million for LPDs and $374,000 for poultry growers; a combined savings of $6.5 million. Table 1 below summarizes cost
savings to poultry growers and LPDs if the effective date of the Payment Systems rule is delayed until December 31, 2027.

| Value | Growers
($) | LPDs
($) | Total
($) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First-Year | 249,000 | 4,902,000 | 5,151,000 |
| Ten-Year Total | 374,000 | 6,146,000 | 6,520,000 |
| NPV discounted at 3% | 360,000 | 6,038,000 | 6,398,000 |
| NPV discounted at 7% | 342,000 | 5,880,000 | 6,222,000 |
| Annualized NPV discounted at 3% | 42,000 | 708,000 | 750,000 |
| Annualize NPV discounted at 7% | 49,000 | 837,000 | 886,000 |

Indirect Cost Savings/Benefits of the 18-Month Delay of §§ 201.106, 110, 112 and 290—Preferred Alternative

The indirect benefits (cost savings) of this proposed rule represent the indirect benefits incurred during the 18-month period
of the delay of the effective date. AMS expects that §§ 201.106, 110, and 112 include provisions that may require LPDs to
change their existing business practices, which has the potential to affect the indirect costs of the Payment Systems rule.
As discussed in the Payment Systems rule, AMS does not have sufficient data to make an inference on the number of complexes
that would need to change business practices or the magnitude of any changes that would be required. (9)

If LPDs modify existing grower compensation structures in response to § 201.106, changes in performance-based payments could
adversely affect grower performance incentives and cause growers to produce broilers less efficiently. As a result, LPDs could
face increased production costs. Even a very small change in efficiency could result in relatively large increases in the
cost of producing broilers. Those costs could be passed on to consumers.

If AMS enforcement of § 201.112 has the effect of preventing broiler growers from making additional capital investments, then
such decisions to forgo investment will likely result in fewer benefits for LPDs, and more for growers. AMS is not able to
quantify these lost benefits (costs) to LPDs.

As the preferred alternative proposes to delay the effective date of the Payment Systems rule for 18 months, LPDs and growers
may experience indirect benefits proportional to this delay, though AMS expects these indirect benefits to be small relative
to the benefits associated with the Payments Systems rule.

Indirect Costs/Foregone Benefits of the 18-Month Delay of §§ 201.106, 110, 112 and 290—Preferred Alternative

There are unquantifiable benefits to the provisions regulating LPDs in §§ 201.106, 110, and 112, which would be foregone in
the 18-month period in which the Payment Systems rule would be delayed under the preferred alternative. Section 201.106 could
benefit growers from increased clarity and certainty about the lowest possible revenue and reduce variability in outcomes
under a growing arrangement. Section 201.110 may benefit broiler growers through improved fairness in comparison. Section
201.112 may provide broiler growers with better information to make financial decisions. The size of these unquantifiable
benefits would be directly related to the extent of these reductions. However, AMS does not have sufficient data to make an
inference on the number of complexes that would change business practices or the magnitude of any changes that would be required.

AMS expects broiler growers would benefit from the Payment Systems rule, though AMS is unable to predict the size of these
benefits with certainty. The indirect benefits of the Payment Systems rule would still occur, they would just be delayed by
18 months. Thus, broiler growers would experience unquantifiable costs (foregone benefits) proportional to this delay, though
AMS expects these unquantifiable costs to be small.

Direct Cost Savings/Benefits of the 12-Month Delay Alternative

AMS also evaluated benefits and costs of delaying the effective date for 12 months (12-Month Delay Alternative). The 12-Month
Delay Alternative is similar to the proposed alternative, but the effective date of the Payment Systems rule would be delayed
12 rather than 18 months. Under the 12-Month Delay Alternative all costs for both LPDs and growers would be shifted back by
one year, resulting in a savings to LPDs of $4.9 million and poultry growers of $249,000 in administrative costs for a total
of $5.2 million in savings. Because administrative costs for LPDs were expected to decrease in the fifth year after the rule
became effective, costs in the fifth year would be $800,000 higher for LPDs if the effective date is delayed 12 months. The
ten-year total direct administrative cost savings would be $4.3 million for the 12-Month Delay Alternative. The table below
contains estimated administrative cost savings for LPDs and poultry growers for the 12-Month delay Alternative.

| Value | Growers
($) | LPDs
($) | Total
($) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First-Year | 249,000 | 4,902,000 | 5,151,000 |
| Ten-Year Total | 249,000 | 4,097,000 | 4,347,000 |
| NPV discounted at 3% | 242,000 | 4,065,000 | 4,307,000 |
| NPV discounted at 7% | 233,000 | 4,007,000 | 4,241,000 |
| Annualized NPV discounted at 3% | 28,000 | 477,000 | 505,000 |
| Annualize NPV discounted at 7% | 33,000 | 571,000 | 604,000 |

Indirect Benefits/Cost Savings of the 12-Month Delay Alternative

As in the case of the preferred alternative, the indirect benefits of the 12-Month Delay Alternative represent the indirect
costs not incurred during the 12-month period of the delay of the effective date. The indirect costs of the final rule would
still occur, they would just be delayed. Again, AMS cannot rule out the possibility that incentives may be affected by the
Payment Systems rule, and AMS is unable to predict specific effects with certainty. LPDs and growers may experience indirect
benefits (cost savings) proportional to this 12-month delay, though AMS expects these indirect benefits to be very small.
Because the proposed delay is shorter, AMS expects the indirect benefits of 12-Month Delay Alternative to be smaller than
the indirect benefits of the preferred alternative.

Unquantifiable Direct Costs Incurred of the 12-Month Delay Alternative

As with the preferred alternative, a 12-month delay of the effective date of the provisions regulating LPDs in §§ 201.106,
110, and 112 would likely impose additional unquantifiable direct costs on LPDs. The nature of these unquantifiable direct
costs is the same as in the preferred alternative, but these costs may be smaller do to the shorter proposed delay of the
effective date of the Payment Systems rule.

Costs/Foregone Benefits of the 12-Month Delay Alternative

The nature of the costs (benefits foregone) under 12-Month Delay Alternative are the same as under the preferred alternative.
As in the case of the preferred alternative, the costs of the 12-Month Alternative Delay represent the benefits not incurred
during the period of the proposed delay of the effective date. The benefits of the final rule would still occur, they would
just be delayed. As the 12-Month Delay Alternative represents a shorter delay, AMS expects the costs of 12-Month Delay Alternative
to be smaller than the costs of the preferred alternative.

Comparison of Alternatives

The benefits and costs of delaying the effective date of the Payments Systems rule are very similar, but all costs and benefits
are slightly smaller for the 12-Month Delay Alternative. AMS invites comments and data concerning the benefits and costs of
delaying the effective date of the Payment Systems rule.

AMS is proposing to delay the effective date of the Payment Systems rule to allow for thorough consideration of estimated
costs and the policy and legal issues associated with the final rule. Because twelve months may not provide adequate time
for the thorough consideration needed, AMS chose the preferred alternative of proposing to delay the effective date by 18
months.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) requires agencies to consider the economic impact of each rule on small
entities and evaluate alternatives that would accomplish the objectives of the rule without unduly burdening small entities
or erecting barriers that would restrict their ability to compete in the market.

AMS is proposing to delay implementation of the Payment Systems rule which added §§ 201.106, 110, 112 and 290 to the regulations
under the P&S Act. Sections 201.106, 110, and 112 would regulate LPDs that contract with poultry growers to raise broilers.
The regulations would have no effect on LPDs that contract or process turkeys, geese, ducks or other fowl unless they also
contract or process broilers. Currently, the Payment Systems rule is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2026. This proposed
rule would delay implementation until December 31, 2027.

The final rule: (1) prohibits livestock poultry dealers (LPDs) from reducing a grower's compensation based on the grower's ranking under a
poultry grower ranking system; (2) establishes a presumptive violation of the P&S Act by LPDs when aggregate gross annual
payments based upon a grower's ranking under a poultry grower ranking system exceeds a certain threshold; (3) holds LPDs to
a duty of fair comparison when designing and operating their poultry grower ranking system and requires documentation of compliance
with that duty; and (4) requires LPDs to provide certain disclosures when requesting or requiring that broiler growers make
additional capital investments.

When AMS finalized the Payment Systems rule, AMS explained there was uncertainty as to whether the benefits would outweigh
the costs. (10) There is no literature addressing how growers' incentives might change if performance discounts were not part of the tournament
or if variability in performance payments were limited.

AMS is proposing to delay the effective day of the Payment Systems rule to allow for thorough consideration of estimated costs
and the policy and legal issues associated with the final rule.

The only firms that the Payment Systems rule directly regulates are LPDs. The SBA defines small businesses by their North
American Industry Classification System Codes (NAICS). LPDs, NAICS 311615, are considered small businesses if they have fewer
than 1,250 employees. (11)

AMS maintains data on LPDs from the annual reports (12) these firms file with AMS. AMS records of annual reports identified 45 LPDs that processed broilers subject to the regulations
during fiscal year 2023. Twenty-four of the LPDs were small businesses according to the SBA standard.

Delaying implementation of the Payment Systems rule would not cause significant costs for any LPD. LPDs would still be required
to comply with §§ 201.106, 110, and 112 of the regulations, but would have until December 31, 2027, to do so. The regulations
place restrictions on the way LPDs' contract with growers. Delaying implementation would give LPDs more time to make changes
to their business practices to comply with the new regulations. No LPD, whether small or large, would be required to change
any practices as result of this proposed regulatory action. No LPD, whether small or large, would be required to change any
practices as result of this proposed regulatory action. Rather, LPDs are expected to benefit from the delay of the effective
date for §§ 201.106, 110, 112, and 290 due to the cost savings incurred.

In evaluating direct cost savings from delaying the Payment Systems rule, AMS follows the same analytical approach used in
the final rule. The updated estimates incorporate the latest industry parameters and wage rates while maintaining consistency
with the methodology used. Hourly wage rates were established using the following BLS classifications for each labor category
as follows (NAICS Code—OCC code—OCC Title): Management (3116—11-1020—General and Operations Managers) for live poultry dealers'
managers, and Legal (3110—23-1011—Lawyers) for attorneys. (13) The average hourly wage rates used to estimate cost savings were updated from the final rule to include a 42.34 percent markup
for benefits and are as follows: Management—$102.56, Legal—$145.93, Administrative—$48.38, and Information Technology—$101.72.
For reference, the analysis in the final rule is described in detail in the
Federal Register
at 90 FR 5146 (see pages 5189-5206). (14)

Direct Cost Savings/Benefits to Small LPDs of the Proposed 18-Month Delay of §§ 201.106, 110, 112, and 290—Preferred Alternative

With the proposed 18-month delay of the Poultry Systems rule, much of the first-year costs in the final rule that AMS considered
are one-time setup and preparation activities that processors would incur before the rule became effective. AMS believes many
of these costs have likely already occurred, and therefore they are not affected by the delay; however, AMS welcomes comments
from the industry related to these costs during the comment period of this proposed rule.

The delay would affect recurring costs. Delaying the effective date of the final rule will enable LPDs to avoid annual administrative
costs that would otherwise occur in the first 18 months after the Payment Systems rule becomes effective. Delaying the effective
date for 18 months would shift all costs for small LPDs back by 18 months. This proposed rule would enable small LPDs to save
$587,000 in administrative costs in the first year after July 1, 2026, which is the first year after the rule would otherwise
become effective. They would save an additional $294,000 in the second year for a total of $881,000. Administrative costs
for small LPDs were expected to decrease by $72,000 in the fifth year after the rule became effective. If the effective date
is delayed, the decrease in costs will be delayed as well, and costs in the fifth year would be $72,000 higher for small LPDs.
These lower administrative costs were expected to continue in the sixth year after the rule became effective. If the effective
date is delayed, the decrease in costs for the first half of the sixth year will also be delayed, and costs in the sixth year
would be $36,000 higher for small LPDs. This would result in a ten-year total cost savings of $773,000 for small LPDs. Column
three in table 3 below summarizes cost savings to small LPDs if the effective date of the Payment Systems rule is delayed
until December 31, 2027.

Direct Cost Savings/Benefits of the 12-Month Delay Alternative

AMS also evaluated benefits and costs of delaying the effective date for 12 months (12-Month Delay Alternative). The 12-Month
Delay Alternative is similar to the proposed alternative, but the effective date of the Payment Systems rule would be delayed
12 rather than 18 months. Under the 12-Month Delay Alternative all costs for small LPDs would be shifted back by one year,
resulting in savings to small LPDs of $587,000 in administrative costs. Because administrative costs for small LPDs were expected
to decrease in the fifth year after the rule became effective, costs in the fifth year would be $72,000 higher for small LPDs
if the effective date is delayed 12 months. The ten-year total direct administrative cost savings would be $515,000 for the
12-Month Delay Alternative. Column two in table 3 below contains estimated administrative cost savings for small LPDs for
the 12-Month Delay Alternative.

| Value | 12-Month delay
($) | 18-Month delay
($) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Small LPDs Combined: | | |
| First-Year | 587,000 | 587,000 |
| Ten-Year Total | 515,000 | 773,000 |
| NPV discounted at 3% | 508,000 | 755,000 |
| NPV discounted at 7% | 497,000 | 730,000 |
| Annualized NPV discounted at 3% | 60,000 | 88,000 |
| Annualized NPV discounted at 7% | 71,000 | 104,000 |
| Per Entity: | | |
| First-Year | 24,000 | 24,000 |
| Ten-Year Total | 21,000 | 32,000 |
| NPV discounted at 3% | 21,000 | 31,000 |
| NPV discounted at 7% | 21,000 | 30,000 |
| Annualized NPV discounted at 3% | 2,000 | 4,000 |
| Annualized NPV discounted at 7% | 3,000 | 4,000 |

Threshold Analysis

LPDs report net sales in Annual Reports to AMS. (15) While net sales are not the same as annual revenue, unless the small LPDs have diversified income, net sales is a reasonable
substitute for annual revenue. Table 4 below groups small LPDs' net sales into quartiles, reports the average net sales in
each quartile, and compares average net sales to average expected cost savings from delaying the Payment Systems rule for
18 months. If a significant impact is defined as 1 percent of net sales and a substantial number is 25 percent (6 firms) of
the small businesses, expected direct cost savings resulting from

  delaying the effective date of the Payment Systems rule 18 months would not be significant. Savings would be largest for the
  smallest quartile, but not significant. First-year cost savings for the smallest quartile would be 0.24 percent of net revenues.
  Annualized savings are less than the first-year cost savings.

| Quartile | Average net sales | First-year total as a percent of net sales | Ten year NPV annualized at 3 percent as a percent of net sales | Ten year NPV annualized at 7 percent as a percent of net sales |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 0 to 25% | $10,017,311 | 0.244 | 0.037 | 0.043 |
| 25 to 50% | 34,567,539 | 0.071 | 0.011 | 0.012 |
| 50 to 75% | 92,380,634 | 0.026 | 0.004 | 0.005 |
| 75 to 100% | 226,958,521 | 0.011 | 0.002 | 0.002 |
Data in the table do not account for indirect cost savings related to delaying the effective date of the Payment Systems rule.
If LPDs modify existing grower compensation structures in response to § 201.106, changes in performance-based payments could
adversely affect grower performance incentives and cause growers to produce broilers less efficiently. As a result, LPDs could
face increased production costs. If AMS enforcement of § 201.112 has the effect of preventing broiler growers from making
additional capital investments, then such decisions to forgo investment would likely result in fewer benefits for LPDs.

As the preferred alternative proposes to delay the effective date of the Payment Systems rule for 18 months, LPDs and growers
may experience indirect benefits proportional to this delay. However, AMS was not able to quantify these indirect benefits.
After adding the indirect benefits with the direct cost savings, the benefits of delaying the effective date of the Payment
Systems rule could be significant for a substantial number of LPDs.

12-Month Delay Alternative

Benefits of the 12-Month Delay alternative would be very similar to the preferred alternative, but because the delay is shorter,
the benefits to LPDs would be less. The table below indicates that neither first-year cost savings to LPDs nor annualized
cost savings would be greater than one percent of average net sales for any quartile. Table 5 below has direct cost savings
as percentage of average net sales for growers in each quartile.

As with the preferred alternative, LPDs would likely experience indirect benefits from delaying the effective date of the
Payment Systems rule. The benefits would be similar to those associated with the preferred alternative, but because the time
delay is shorter in the 12-Month Delay alternative, the benefits would be less than the benefits associated with the preferred
alternative.

| Quartile | Average
net sales | First-year
total aspercent ofnet sales | Ten year NPV
annualized at3 percent asa percent ofnet sales | Ten year NPV
annualized at7 percent asa percent ofnet sales |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 0 to 25% | $10,017,311 | 0.244 | 0.025 | 0.029 |
| 25 to 50% | 34,567,539 | 0.071 | 0.007 | 0.009 |
| 50 to 75% | 92,380,634 | 0.026 | 0.003 | 0.003 |
| 75 to 100% | 226,958,521 | 0.011 | 0.001 | 0.001 |
After combining the direct and indirect benefits, LPDs would gain more from the preferred alternative, but the difference
between the alternatives is small relative to the costs and benefits associated with Payment Systems rule. AMS is proposing
to delay the effective date of the Payment Systems rule to allow for thorough consideration of estimated costs and the policy
and legal issues associated with the final rule. Because twelve months may not provide adequate time for the thorough consideration
needed, AMS chose the preferred alternative of proposing to delay the effective date by 18 months.

AMS does not expect direct cost savings to be significant for a substantial number of LPDs. However, AMS is uncertain of the
size of unquantified indirect benefits. If they are added to the quantified savings, benefits could be significant for substantial
number of small LPDs. AMS invites comments and data concerning the benefits and costs of delaying the effective date of the
Payment Systems rule.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), AMS requested OMB approval of the new information
collection and recordkeeping requirements related to the Payment Systems rule when it was proposed in the
Federal Register
on June 10, 2024 (89 FR 49002). The information collection was approved under OMB Control No. 0581-0346 for a total of 59,182
hours for the first year, and 42,682 hours per year thereafter. No additional collection or recordkeeping requirements would
be imposed on the public if the proposal to delay the effective date of the Payment Systems rule is finalized. Accordingly,
OMB clearance is not required by the Paperwork Reduction Act.

E. Civil Rights Impact Analysis Statement

AMS has considered the potential civil rights implications of this proposed rule on members of protected groups and has determined
this proposed rule does not contain any requirements related to eligibility, benefits, or services that would have the purpose
or effect of excluding, limiting, or otherwise disadvantaging any individual, group, or class of persons on one or more prohibited
bases.

F. Executive Order 13175

Executive Order 13175 requires Federal agencies to consult with Indian Tribes on a government-to-government basis on policies
that have Tribal implications. This includes regulations, legislative comments or proposed legislation, and other policy statements
or actions. Consultation is required when such policies have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian Tribes, on the
relationship between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes, or the distribution of power and responsibilities between the
Federal Government and Indian Tribes. The following is a summary of activity to date.

AMS engaged in a Tribal Consultation in conjunction with a previous rulemaking also under the P&S Act (“Inclusive Competition
and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act” (87 FR 60010, October 3, 2022)) on January 19, 2023, in person
in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and virtually. AMS received multiple Tribal comments from that Consultation, many of which were specific
to and considered in that rulemaking. In that consultation, Tribes raised legal concerns with respect to the jurisdiction
of AMS enforcement of the P&S Act. Tribes commented that the P&S Act does not apply to Tribes and Tribal entities. Those comments
raise a legal issue of statutory interpretation, but these concerns are not directly implicated by this rulemaking. AMS does
not find that this rulemaking carries substantial direct effects on one or more Indian Tribes beyond the purely legal issue
raised during consultation.

AMS recognizes and supports the Secretary's desire to incorporate Tribal and Indigenous perspectives, remove barriers, and
encourage Tribal self-determination principles in USDA programs, including hearing and understanding Tribal views on legal
authorities and cost implications as facts and circumstances develop. If a Tribe requests additional consultation, AMS will
work with USDA's Office of Tribal Relations to ensure meaningful consultation is provided in accordance with Executive Order
13175.

G. Executive Order 12988

This proposed rule is not intended to have a retroactive effect. If adopted, this proposed rule would not preempt any State
or local laws, regulations, or policies unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this rulemaking.

H. E-Government Act

AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act (44 U.S.C. 3601, et seq.) by promoting the use of the internet and other information technologies to provide increased opportunities for citizen access
to Government information and services, and for other purposes.

I. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA, Pub. L. 104-4) requires Federal agencies to assess the effects
of their regulatory actions of State, local, and Tribal governments, or the private sector. Agencies generally must prepare
a written statement, including cost benefits analysis, for proposed and final rules with Federal mandates that may result
in expenditures of $100 million or more (adjusted for inflation) in any 1 year for State, local or Tribal governments, in
the aggregate, or to the private sector. UMRA generally requires agencies to consider alternatives and adopt the more cost
effective or least burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives of the rule. This rulemaking will not compel the expenditure
in any one year of $100 million or more (adjusted for inflation) by State, local, and Tribal governments, in the aggregate,
or by the private sector. Therefore, a statement under 2 U.S.C. 1532 is not required.

Erin Morris, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2026-05330 Filed 3-17-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P

Footnotes

(1) See “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems,” 90 FR 5146, 5196, 5201, January 16, 2025.

(2) See id. at 5198-9.

(3) Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act,
2026, Public Law 119-37, 139 Stat. 495 (November 12, 2025).

(4) 171 Cong. Rec. S8047 (daily ed. November 9, 2025) (Explanatory Statement Submitted by Ms. Collins, Chair of the Senate Committee
on Appropriations, Regarding H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction
and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026) (“The agreement encourages the Department to delay implementation of the final
rule entitled `Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems', published by the Department of Agriculture
in the
Federal Register
on January 16, 2025 (90 FR 5146 et seq.).”)

(5) See “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems,” 90 FR 5202, January 16, 2025.

(6) Knoeber, Charles R. and Walter N. Thurman. “Testing the Theory of Tournaments: An Empirical Analysis of Broiler Production.” Journal of Labor Economics 12 (April 1994). Levy, Armando and Tomislav Vukina. “The League Composition Effect in Tournaments with Heterogeneous Players:
An Empirical Analysis of Broiler Contracts.” Journal of Labor Economics 22 (2004).

(7) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2024, https://www.bls.gov/oes/special.requests/oesm24all.zip.

(8) See “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems,” 90 FR 5190, January 16, 2025.

(9) See “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems,” 90 FR 5198, January 16, 2025.

(10) See “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems,” 90 FR 5198, January 16, 2025.

(11) 13 CFR part 121.

(12) Live poultry dealers are required to file form PSD 3002, “Annual Report of Live Poultry Dealers” (OMB Control No. 0581-0308),
with AMS.

(13) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2024, https://www.bls.gov/oes/special.requests/oesm24all.zip.

(14) See “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems,” 90 FR 5190, January 16, 2025.

(15) Live poultry dealers are required to file form PSD 3002, “Annual Report of Live Poultry Dealers” (OMB Control No. 0581-0308),
with AMS.

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