Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) issued an Decision and Order Without Hearing by Reason of Default on June 8, 2021, against Chakota Rowdy Ray Snow, doing business as R & R Cattle Co. and Rowdy Ray Snow (Snow), of Oklahoma, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that from June 20 to June 27, 2018, in ten transactions, Snow purchased 617 head of livestock totaling approximately $427,113 and failed to pay the full purchase price. Snow issued separate checks in payment of various lots, but the checks were returned unpaid by the bank because there were not sufficient funds. In its complaint, USDA also alleged that these same ten transactions violate the Act because Snow failed to pay, when due, the full purchase price of livestock.
Under the Default Decision and Order, Snow was ordered to cease and desist from engaging in operations subject to the Act without paying timely for each and every livestock transaction. Snow is suspended as a registrant under the Act for a period of seven years and thereafter until a bond or adequate financial instrument is obtained. The full default decision and order is available on the AMS Packers and Stockyards Enforcement page.
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 Stuart Frank, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051, or by email at Stuart.Frank@usda.gov.
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