Sellers Awarded Payment Under Packers and Stockyards Act

On January 30, 2009, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that payouts of more than $2 million would be made to unpaid sellers for animals sold to Agriprocessors, Inc., of Postville, Iowa.  The unpaid sellers delivered animals to Agriprocessors, Inc. in the months leading up to company’s filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection.  The payouts arise from the statutory trust protections of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921.  The official USDA Press Release for the announcement is available here.