The US Department of Agriculture (has settled a pair of Packers and Stockyards Act cases.

• USDA entered into a stipulation agreement with JBS USA Food Co. (JBS) of Greeley, Colo. on April 15, 2025, resolving an alleged violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act. Under this agreement, JBS waived its right to a hearing and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $4,000. A USDA Agricultural Marketing Service investigation of JBS’ pork operations in Louisville, Ky. on Feb. 25, 2025, and Beardstown, Ill. on March 6, 2025, found the trolleys at those plants were not uniform in weight.
•  USDA entered into a stipulation agreement with Smithfield Fresh Meats Corp. (Smithfield) of Smithfield, Va. on May 15, 2025, resolving an alleged violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act. Under this agreement, Smithfield waived its right to a hearing and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $2,000. On March 12, 2025, a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service investigation found that trolleys being used at Smithfield’s pork plant in Crete, Neb. were not uniform in weight. 

The P&S Act requires packers purchasing livestock on a carcass weight basis to use trolleys in connection with the weighing of carcasses that are uniform in weight. 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, payment could be affected. Failure to standardize the weight of trolleys is an unfair trade practice and a violation of the P&S Act and regulations.