Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2020 –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Decision and Order Without Hearing by Reason of Default against Bill Barton, doing business as Barton Cattle Company (Barton) of Bagwell, Texas, on October. 7, 2020, for violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service revealed that between March through December 2018, Barton failed to pay and failed to pay when due for livestock purchases. In its complaint, USDA alleges that Barton issued insufficient funds checks in two transactions and still owes $46,759 for livestock purchases.
Under the Default Decision and Order, Barton was ordered to cease and desist from failing to pay the full amount of the purchase price for livestock within the required time period, assessed a civil penalty of $95,183, and suspended as a registrant from all livestock operations for 120 days. The full Default Decision and Order is available.
The P&S Act requires subject entities to issue the full payment for livestock by the close of the first business day following purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to timely pay for livestock purchases and failure to issue the full payment for purchases is an unfair trade practice and a violation of the P&S Act.
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 Jeana Harbison, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051, or by email at Jeana.M.Harbison@usda.gov.
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