WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with I-O Corporate Holdings LLC dba The Country Butcher (I-O) of Decatur, Ind., on July 7, 2025, resolving an alleged violation of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under this agreement, I-O waived its right to a hearing and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $2,600.
A USDA Agricultural Marketing Service investigation revealed that between Nov. 4, 2024, and Feb. 28, 2025, I-O engaged in the business of a packer, buying 3,872 head of livestock for slaughter in 20 transactions totaling $5,691,646, without maintaining an adequate bond or bond equivalent. This is a violation of the P&S Act, which requires packers whose annual purchases exceed $500,000 to have an adequate bond or bond equivalent in place when purchasing livestock for slaughter.
The Secretary of Agriculture has authority under the P&S Act to take action against violators, including issuing orders to cease and desist, suspending registrations, and applying other appropriate remedies as authorized by the Act. USDA may also offer alleged violators the option to waive their right to a hearing and enter into a stipulation agreement to resolve the suspected violations quickly.
For information about the P&S Act, contact Amy Blechinger, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051 or Amy.R.Blechinger@usda.gov.
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