USDA Settles a Packers and Stockyards Case Against Jody Pinkert

Date
Thursday, January 21, 2021 - 11:30am
Contact Info
Release No.
013-21

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2021 –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Jody Pinkert (Pinkert) of Lubbock, Texas, on Dec. 11, 2020, for violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, Pinkert waived his rights to a hearing and paid a penalty of $1,000.

An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that from November 2019 through January 2020, Pinkert failed to pay for livestock within the timeline required by the Act, in 13 transactions consisting of 761 head of cattle purchased for $490,923. Payments ranged from five to seven days late.

The P&S Act requires subject entities to issue the full payment for livestock by the close of the first business day following purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to timely pay for livestock purchases and failure to issue the full payment for purchases 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. USDA may offer alleged violators the option of waiving their right to a hearing and enter into a stipulation agreement to quickly resolve alleged violations.

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 Jeana Harbison, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051, or by email at Jeana.M.Harbison@usda.gov.

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