FORT COLLINS, Colo. (DTN) -- Producers at Friday's USDA-Department of Justice hearing who testified about the proposed USDA livestock competition rule will have their comments put into the record for the rule-making process.

Some groups leading up to the meeting had questioned whether comments made about the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration rule would be part of the public record for the public-comment period. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made it clear that was the case.

"We will assume that all of the comments made to GIPSA are part of the official record, and included as part of the ...