WASHINGTON, March 4, 2026 – On Oct. 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Pork King Packing Inc of Marengo, Ill., resolving alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under this agreement, Pork King waived its right to a hearing and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $3,840.
A USDA Agricultural Marketing Service investigation revealed that Pork King Packing Inc violated the P&S Act and regulations by failing to conduct and submit scale tests to the USDA Packers and Stockyards Division from April 18, 2019, to Aug. 26, 2025.
When the Packers and Stockyards Division conducted a monorail scale test, it found the established tare weight being deducted was greater than the actual weight of the trolleys being used, resulting in an underpayment to hog producers selling on a carcass weight.
The Packers and Stockyards Division also determined Pork King was paying on a weight division that was less than the approved division size of the monorail scale established by the National Council of Weights and Measures.
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 P&S Act, contact Bryice Wilke, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (515) 314-3888 or Bryice.A.Wilke@usda.gov.
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