Contract poultry farmers are caught in an unfair system, a system that traps them in debt and forces them to take whatever contracts they are offered. No matter how hard these farmers work, they will not be paid fairly. If they speak up, they face retaliation. At any time, they could lose their contract and lose their family farm.

The meat and poultry industry is fighting hard against a rule meant to protect contract farmers from this unfair treatment. The rule would level the playing field between poultry or livestock farmers and companies, protect farmers' investments, and make pay more competitive. 

So far the industry has been successful in their efforts to stop the rule, and the House of Representatives has already passed their Agriculture Appropriations Bill with a provision that would kill the rule. The Senate just passed their version of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill without anything in it dealing with the rule.  Now, we have to be sure that the Agriculture Appropriations Bill comes out of the Conference Committee without anything that would stop or delay the rule. 

Your senator, Senator Inouye, is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and his vote is crucial for protecting farmers.  

Please send a message to Senator Inouye today and ask him to oppose any efforts to stop or delay this critical rule.