Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, April 5, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Relentless Holdings, LLC, doing business as Farm Field Table (Relentless) of Ferndale, Mich., on Feb. 17, 2022, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, Relentless waived its rights to a hearing and paid a civil penalty of $2,000.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service revealed Relentless failed to timely pay for its livestock purchases. Relentless purchased 215 head of livestock over 32 sale dates from November 2019 through November 2020, ranging from 6 to 110 days late. Relentless also issued one nonsufficient funds (NSF) check and did not retain adequate records.
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. It also requires subject entities keep and maintain records that accurately disclose the full nature of the transaction. Failure to timely pay for livestock purchases, issuing NSF checks and failing to properly maintain records are violations of the P&S Act.
The P&S Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess civil penalties up to $29,270 per violation against any person after 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 quickly resolve alleged violations.
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 Kraig Roesch, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (303) 375-4291, or by email at Kraig.Roesch@usda.gov.
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