Release No.: 125-19
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2019 – As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, on Sept. 9, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision against Keith Jensen, doing business as Keith Jensen Livestock (Keith Jensen Livestock) of South Dakota, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service revealed that Keith Jensen Livestock failed to timely pay for 2,210 head of livestock, totaling $4,070,098 from Sept. 11, 2014, through Feb. 12, 2015.
Under the consent decision, Keith Jensen Livestock must pay a $20,000 civil penalty and, including its agents and employees, must cease and desist from failing to pay livestock dealers or their duly authorized representatives the full amount of the purchase price for livestock before the close of the next business day following each purchase of livestock.
Also, in the event Keith Jensen Livestock mails payments for future livestock purchases, payments are to be postmarked on the day after the scheduled date of the sale.
The P&S Act is a fair trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat and poultry industries.
For further information about the Packers and Stockyards Act, contact Stuart Frank, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (515) 323-2586, or by email at stuart.frank@usda.gov
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