Release No.: 023-20
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2020 – As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, on Jan. 13, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision against Great Lakes Cattle Marketing Company, LLC (Great Lakes) and Gary Labor (Labor) of Saint Louis, Mich., for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) resulted in the issuance of an administrative complaint on Aug. 12, 2019, against Great Lakes and Labor for engaging in the business of a dealer and market agency buying and selling livestock on commission, failing to pay the full amount of the purchase price of livestock and issuing insufficient funds checks.
The P&S Act requires subject entities to issue the full payment for livestock by the close of the first business day following the purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to pay for livestock purchases and issuing insufficient funds checks are unfair trade practices and violations of the P&S Act.
Under the consent decision, Great Lakes and Labor, along with its agents and employees, must cease and desist from purchasing livestock in commerce and failing to pay the full purchase price for livestock. In addition, Great Lakes and Labor are prohibited from registering under the Act for five years, beginning Jan. 16, 2020. However, they may be allowed to register after three years, provided they make full payment to unpaid livestock sellers.
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 Stuart Frank, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (515) 323-2586, or by email at stuart.frank@usda.gov.
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