Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, June 2, 2020 – As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, on May 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a complaint against Michael Tom Lindsey (Lindsey) of Bernice, La., for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service revealed that on June 12, 2019, Lindsey failed to pay for livestock purchases totaling $54,870.50 to one market agency. The investigation found that Lindsey purchased the livestock, but failed to pay the full amount due. In its complaint, USDA alleges that Lindsey still owes $10,712.89 of the $54,870.50 owed for those livestock purchases.
P&S regulation requires that when purchasing livestock, livestock dealers must issue the full payment for livestock by the close of the first business day following purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to do so is an unfair practice and a violation of the P&S Act.
The P&S Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess civil penalties up to $28,061 per violation against any person after the notice and opportunity for hearing on the record. If the allegations are admitted or proven in an oral hearing, Lindsey may be ordered to cease and desist from continuing violations of the P&S Act and assessed a civil penalty.
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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