The National Farmers Union is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to finalize the Farmer Fair Practices Rules. Through comments submitted to USDA as part of the public comment period for the rules, NFU tells USDA the rules will likely result in a more transparent and business-like relationship between farmers and the processing companies. The rules were released in December of last year, but are under review by the new Donald Trump Administration. Livestock groups, including the National Pork Producers Council, oppose the rules. Groups opposed to the rule say it will lead to more lawsuits within the livestock industry, and the possibility of consolidation. NFU President Roger Johnson says the interim final rule on competitive injury “plainly restates the intent of the Packers and Stockyards Act” to provide individual farmers and ranchers with protection from the abuses by meatpackers. The rule would change the competitive injury that must be proven for a lawsuit to continue. USDA is seeking public comment on the competitive injury interim final rule through June 12.