Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Hickey Enterprises LLP, doing business.as Elk City Livestock Auction (Hickey) of Elk City, Okla., on Nov. 25, 2020, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, Hickey waived its rights to a hearing and paid a penalty of $1,100.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that the livestock marketing agency failed to test its livestock scale and provide test results between July 1 and Dec. 30, 2019.
AMS requires that livestock scales used in commerce be tested at least once between January 1 and June 30 and at least once again between July 1 and December 31 with a minimum period of 120 days between tests.
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. USDA may offer alleged violators the option of waiving their right to a hearing and enter into a stipulation agreement to resolve alleged violations quickly.
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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