USDA Reaches a Consent Decision against Triple J Family Farms LLC and John Derner for Packers and Stockyards Act Violations

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision and order against Triple J Family Farms LLC and John Derner (Triple J) of Buffalo Lake, Minn., on April 30, 2021, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service revealed that Triple J failed to pay the full purchase price for 307 head of livestock totaling $576,058. Additionally, Triple J issued three insufficient funds checks to livestock sellers from June 23 through June 30, 2015.

Under the consent decision and order, Triple J is ordered to cease and desist from failing to pay the full purchase price of livestock when due and issuing checks in payment for livestock purchases that are drawn from accounts that do not maintain sufficient funds. Triple J was assessed a $15,000 civil penalty.

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 Bryice Wilke, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (515) 314-3888, or by email at Bryice.A.Wilke@usda.gov.

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