Washington, D.C., May 13, 2026 – On March 4, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Tina Livestock Market, LLC. of Tina, Mo., resolving an alleged violation of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under this agreement, Tina Livestock Market waived its right to a hearing and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1,750.
A USDA Agricultural Marketing Service investigation revealed that Tina Livestock Market last submitted a scale test report on Aug. 22, 2024, and continued weighing livestock to determine sale prices throughout 2025 without submitting a scale test report to USDA as required by the P&S Act. On Feb. 18, 2026, Tina Livestock Market took corrective action by submitting a scale test report for the second half of 2025.
The P&S Act requires regulated entities to test livestock scales used in commerce at least once between Jan. 1 and June 30, and at least once again between July 1 and Dec. 31, and submit the scale test reports to USDA.
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 Amy Blechinger, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051 or at Amy.R.Blechinger@usda.gov.
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