Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Keith Robertson of Bourbon, Mo., on July 25, 2024, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, Robertson waived his right to a hearing and paid a penalty of $1,250.
A USDA Agricultural Marketing Service investigation revealed that between Jan. 16, 2023, and Feb. 18, 2023, Robertson failed to pay timely on 10 livestock purchases totaling $228,636. Payments were made from three to five days late.
The P&S Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to initiate actions to seek various sanctions, including orders to cease and desist from continuing violations, suspensions of registrations where applicable, and other remedies as authorized and appropriate under the 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 Amy Blechinger, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-5877 or by email at Amy.R.Blechinger@usda.gov.
#
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender