Washington, D.C., May 13, 2026 – On March 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Smithfield Fresh Meats Corp. (Smithfield) of Smithfield, Va., resolving an alleged violation of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under this agreement, Smithfield waived its right to a hearing and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $2,000.
A USDA Agricultural Marketing Service investigation revealed that trolleys being used at Smithfield’s pork plant in Monmouth, Ill., were not uniform in weight.
The P&S Act requires packers purchasing livestock on a carcass weight basis to maintain a uniform weight for all trolleys used in carcass weighing. Packers deduct a standard trolley tare weight from the gross weight based on the average weight of the trolleys in the plant. If a trolley weight is heavier or lighter than the fixed tare weight being deducted, it is an unfair trade practice as payment could be affected. Failure to standardize the weight of trolleys is a violation of the P&S Act and regulations.
The Secretary of Agriculture has authority to act against violators, including issuing orders to cease and resist, suspending registrations, and applying other appropriate remedies as authorized by the P&S Act. The 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 Amy.R.Blechinger@usda.gov.
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