Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, July 22, 2020 – As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, on July 7, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a complaint against Steve Lamers (Lamers) for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service revealed that from July 2018 to August 2018, Lamers purchased 360 head of livestock for $176,707 on a commission basis without being properly registered and without maintaining the necessary bond or bond equivalent.
The P&S Act requires subject entities to register with the Secretary of Agriculture for transactions subject to the Act and properly file a bond or bond equivalent to secure their financial obligations to livestock sellers. Failure to properly register and operate without having a financial instrument in place is an unfair trade practice and a violation of the P&S Act.
The P&S Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess civil penalties up to $28,061 per violation against any person after the notice and opportunity for hearing on the record. If the allegations are admitted or proven in an oral hearing, Lamers may be ordered to cease and desist from continuing violations of the P&S Act and assessed a civil penalty.
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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