WASHINGTON, March 4, 2026 – On July 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Mohammad Aziz and Hamza Farm LLC of Rosharon, Texas, resolving alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under this agreement, Mohammad Aziz and Hamza Farm LLC waived their rights to a hearing and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $2,660.
A USDA Agricultural Marketing Service investigation revealed that from July 2023 through November 2023, Hamza Farm failed to maintain adequate records and failed to pay timely for 14 livestock transactions involving 431 head of livestock totaling $139,389 (plus $497 in invoice adjustments). Payments were issued between four and 34 days late. The P&S Act requires subject entities to issue full payment for livestock by the close of the first business day following purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to issue payment timely for livestock purchases is a violation of the P&S Act and regulations.
The Secretary of Agriculture has authority to take action against violators, including issuing orders to cease and desist, suspending registrations, and applying other appropriate remedies as authorized by the P&S Act. USDA may also offer alleged violators the option of waiving their right to a hearing and entering into a stipulation agreement to resolve the suspected violations quickly. For information about the Packers and Stockyards Act, contact Amy Blechinger, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051, or Amy.R.Blechinger@usda.gov.
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