Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, July 18 , 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Decision and Order Without Hearing by Reason of Admissions against Adam T. Smith, doing business as Adam Smith Livestock (Smith) of Spring Mills, Pa., on July 7, 2023, for violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that Smith failed to pay when due for 11 transactions totaling $148,483 from June 18, 2020, to Sept. 16, 2021. In addition, Smith issued a check in January 2021 in the amount of $13,444 for 88 head of livestock without sufficient funds in his bank account.
Under the decision, Smith agreed to cease failing to pay timely for his livestock purchases and issuing payments for livestock purchases with insufficient funds in his bank account. Smith was suspended as a registered dealer for five years and assessed a $1,000 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 Dora Malykin, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051 or by email at dora.malykin@usda.gov.
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