Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-102

§201 “stockyard Owner”; “stockyard Services”; “market Agency”; “dealer”; Defined

Title 7 › CHAPTER 9 — PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS › SUBCHAPTER III — STOCKYARDS AND STOCKYARD DEALERS › § 201

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines four key terms used in the chapter. A stockyard owner is anyone who runs a stockyard. Stockyard services are the things a stockyard offers to handle, care for, market, move, or weigh livestock for sale. A market agency is a business that buys or sells livestock for a commission or provides stockyard services; starting October 7, 2016, it also covers those who buy or sell livestock online, by video, or electronically for a fee when their average annual electronic sales exceed $250,000. A dealer buys or sells livestock for themselves or as an agent but is not a market agency.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §201

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this chapter:
(a)The term “stockyard owner” means any person engaged in the business of conducting or operating a stockyard.
(b)The term “stockyard services” means services or facilities furnished at a stockyard in connection with the receiving, buying, or selling on a commission basis or otherwise, marketing, feeding, watering, holding, delivery, shipment, weighing, or handling in commerce, of livestock.
(c)The term “market agency” means any person engaged in the business of (1) buying or selling in commerce livestock on a commission basis or (2) furnishing stockyard services. Beginning on October 7, 2016, such term includes any person who engages in the business of buying or selling livestock, on a commission or other fee basis, through the use of online, video, or other electronic methods when handling or providing the means to handle receivables or proceeds from such buying or selling, so long as such person’s annual average of online, video, or electronic sales of livestock, on a commission or other fee basis, exceeds $250,000.
(d)The term “dealer” means any person, not a market agency, engaged in the business of buying or selling in commerce livestock, either on his own account or as the employee or agent of the vendor or purchaser.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Pub. L. 114–237, § 2(b)(1), substituted “In this chapter:” for “When used in this chapter—” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–237, § 2(b)(2), substituted period for semicolon at end. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–237, § 2(b)(3)(B), substituted period for semicolon at end. Pub. L. 114–237, § 2(b)(3)(A), which directed amendment of subsec. (b) by substituting “weighing” for “weighting”, could not be executed because the word “weighing” already appeared in text. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–237, § 2(a), substituted period for “; and” after “stockyard services” and inserted at end “Beginning on October 7, 2016, such term includes any person who engages in the business of buying or selling livestock, on a commission or other fee basis, through the use of online, video, or other electronic methods when handling or providing the means to handle receivables or proceeds from such buying or selling, so long as such person’s annual average of online, video, or electronic sales of livestock, on a commission or other fee basis, exceeds $250,000.” 1976—Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 94–410 substituted “livestock” for “live stock”. 1958—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 85–909 struck out “at a stockyard” after “livestock”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 201

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102