17A.01 CITATION.
This chapter may be cited as the Minnesota Livestock Market Agency and Dealer Licensing
Act.
History: 1974 c 347 s 1; 1991 c 288 s 1

17A.02 PURPOSE.
This chapter establishes jurisdiction and authority with the commissioner of agriculture over
livestock marketing by requiring financial responsibility and fair trade practices for the benefit
and protection of farmers, livestock producers, marketing agencies, dealers, any business entity
engaged in the marketing process, and the public.
History: 1974 c 347 s 2; 1981 c 54 s 1

17A.03 DEFINITIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Scope. As used in this chapter, the terms defined in this section have the
meanings given them.
    Subd. 2. Department. "Department" means the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
    Subd. 3. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of agriculture or the
commissioner's representative.
    Subd. 4.[Repealed, 1996 c 310 s 1]
    Subd. 5. Livestock. "Livestock" means cattle, sheep, swine, horses intended for slaughter,
mules, farmed cervidae, as defined in section 35.153, subdivision 3, llamas, as defined in section
17.455, subdivision 2, ratitae, as defined in section 17.453, subdivision 3, bison (buffalo), and
goats.
    Subd. 6. Livestock market agency. "Livestock market agency" means any person who sells
consigned livestock for the account of others, but does not include an occasional or special
event or disposal sale.
    Subd. 7. Livestock dealer. "Livestock dealer" means any person, including a packing
company, engaged in the business of buying or selling livestock on a regular basis for the person's
own account or for the account of others.
"Livestock dealer" does not include:
(a) persons licensed under section 28A.04 who are primarily engaged in the sale of meats at
retail and persons operating as frozen food processing plants; and
(b) persons engaged in the business of farming, when purchasing livestock for breeding or
herd replacement purposes or feeding programs, and when selling the livestock they have owned
and raised, fed out or fattened for slaughter in their specific farming program.
    Subd. 8. Agent. "Agent" means any individual who is engaged by a livestock dealer to act as
the dealer's representative.
    Subd. 9. Feeder pig market. "Feeder pig market" means a trading place where producers
sell feeder pigs directly to livestock dealers or other farmers.
    Subd. 10. Packing plants and slaughtering houses. "Packing plants" and "slaughtering
houses" means places of business where livestock purchased or acquired is slaughtered.
    Subd. 11. Buying station. "Buying station" means any stockyard or concentration point,
other than a public stockyard, at which livestock is bought and sold or assembled for shipment
to a packing plant or a public stockyard, or graded or weighed for the purpose of establishing a
basis for sale or reshipment.
    Subd. 12. Public stockyard. "Public stockyard" means an assembly point operated as a
public livestock market for livestock producers, feeders, market agencies and buyers; providing
the services and facilities for loading and unloading, yarding and sale of all classes of livestock,
for individuals or organizations granted the privilege of the market by the management of the
public stockyards.
    Subd. 13. State livestock weighmaster. "State livestock weighmaster" means a person
employed by the department and appointed by the commissioner to weigh livestock and issue
official certificates of state weight.
    Subd. 14. Public livestock weigher. "Public livestock weigher" means a person employed
by the company to be responsible and accountable for weighing and recording the weights of
livestock.
    Subd. 15. Commercial livestock scale. "Commercial livestock scale" means a livestock
scale or monorail scale used in the purchase or sale of livestock or livestock carcasses. For
purposes of this subdivision, "livestock scale" means a scale equipped with stock racks and gates
and adapted to weighing single or multiple heads of livestock standing on the scale platform, and
"monorail scale" means a scale, also called an abattoir scale, a track scale, or a rail scale, the load
receiving element of which is part of a monorail conveyor system and which is used primarily for
the weighing of livestock carcasses.
History: 1974 c 347 s 3; 1977 c 299 s 1,2; 1981 c 54 s 2; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 16-18; 1986 c
444; 1991 c 288 s 2-4; 1993 c 375 art 9 s 7; 2000 c 477 s 3; 2000 c 488 art 3 s 9; 1Sp2001 c 2 s
32; 2006 c 212 art 1 s 22

17A.036 CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT FOR SHIPPERS PROCEEDS.
Every market agency engaged in selling livestock on a commission or agency basis in this
state shall establish and maintain a separate bank account designated as "custodial account for
shippers proceeds."
History: 1990 c 530 s 19

17A.04 LICENSES.
    Subdivision 1. Licensing provisions. Licenses shall be issued to livestock market agencies
and public stockyards annually and shall expire on December 31 each year, renewable annually
thereafter. A separate license must be obtained for each separate geographical location even
though operated under the same management or same person, partnership, firm, corporation, or
livestock market. The license issued to a livestock market agency and public stockyard shall be
conspicuously posted at the licensee's place of business. Licenses shall be required for livestock
dealers and their agents for the period beginning July 1 each year and ending June 30. The license
issued to a livestock dealer or the agent of a livestock dealer shall be carried by the person so
licensed. The livestock dealer shall be responsible for the acts of the dealer's agents. Licensed
livestock market agencies, public stockyards, and livestock dealers shall be responsible for
the faithful performance of duty of the public livestock weighers at their places of business.
The license issued to a livestock market agency, public stockyard or livestock dealer or agent
of a livestock dealer is not transferable. The operation of livestock market agencies, livestock
dealers, agents and packers at a public stockyard are exempt from sections 17A.01 to 17A.09
and 17A.12 to 17A.17.
    Subd. 1a.[Repealed, 1986 c 322 s 4]
    Subd. 2. Application. Any person desiring to carry on the business of a livestock market
agency or livestock dealer, or both, or a public stockyard shall make application to the
commissioner on a form or forms provided by the commissioner.
    Subd. 3. Financial statement or volume report. Each new applicant for a license to operate
as a livestock market agency or livestock dealer shall file with the application a current balance
sheet and financial statement and shall with each subsequent annual renewal application file a
report of the business volume for the preceding calendar or fiscal year on a form prescribed by the
commissioner, which report shall be for the purpose of determining the amount and adequacy
of the applicant's bond. The commissioner may at any time require an applicant or licensee to
submit a current balance sheet and financial statement if the commissioner deems it necessary for
the protection of the public.
    Subd. 4. Surety bonds required. Each livestock market agency and livestock dealer applying
for a license under Laws 1974, chapter 347 shall file with the commissioner a valid and effective
bond issued by a surety company licensed to do business in this state, or meeting the requirements
of section 17A.05, in the form and amount set forth in section 17A.05. No bond shall be required
of a public stockyard or any agent of a bonded livestock dealer. The commissioner may at any
time raise or lower bond requirements if it appears that a modification of such bond requirements
is justified and will protect the public. The bonds of livestock market agencies and dealers
whose residence or principal place of business is within the state of Minnesota shall name the
commissioner as the trustee. Any license issued under Laws 1974, chapter 347 shall automatically
become void upon the termination of the surety bond covering the licensed operations.
    Subd. 5. License fee. The applicant shall submit to the commissioner the following
applicable fees and penalties for late renewal:
(a) $300 for each livestock market agency and public stockyard license, penalty $75;
(b) $100 for each livestock dealer license, penalty $25;
(c) $50 for each agent of a livestock dealer license, penalty $15;
(d) $100 for each meat packing company license, penalty $25;
(e) $50 for each agent of a meat packing company license, penalty $15.
    Subd. 6. Refusal to license. The commissioner shall refuse to issue a livestock market
agency or livestock dealer license if the applicant has not filed a surety bond in the form and
amount required under this section and section 17A.05; the commissioner may refuse to issue
a license if the applicant (1) has not satisfactorily demonstrated by a current balance sheet
and financial statement that the applicant's assets exceed liabilities; (2) has been found by the
department to have failed to pay, without reasonable cause, obligations incurred in connection
with livestock transactions; (3) has failed to maintain and operate livestock or monorail scales in a
manner to ensure accurate and correct weights; or (4) has failed to comply with other statutes,
rules, or regulations enforced by the commissioner, the Board of Animal Health, the Division of
Weights and Measures of the Department of Commerce, or the federal Packers and Stockyards
Administration.
    Subd. 7. Revocation of license. Whenever the commissioner finds that any livestock market
agency or livestock dealer has violated the provisions of this chapter, or has failed to comply
with other laws, rules, or regulations enforced by the Board of Animal Health, the Division of
Weights and Measures of the Department of Commerce, or the federal Packers and Stockyards
Administration, the commissioner may, by order, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 14, and
this subdivision, revoke the license of the offender. Before any such license shall be revoked,
the licensee shall be furnished with a statement of the complaints made against the licensee, and
a hearing shall be had before the commissioner upon at least ten days' notice to the licensee
to determine whether such license shall be revoked, which notice may be served either by
certified mail addressed to the address of the licensee as shown in the license application or
in the manner provided by law for the service of a summons. At the time and place fixed for
hearing, the commissioner or any official, employee or agent of the department authorized by the
commissioner, shall receive evidence, administer oaths, examine witnesses, hear the testimony
and thereafter file an order either dismissing the proceedings or revoking the license.
    Subd. 8. Suspension of license. Whenever the commissioner finds that the licensee has
violated provisions of this chapter, or has failed to comply with other laws, rules, or regulations
enforced by the Board of Animal Health, the Division of Weights and Measures of the Department
of Commerce, or the federal Packers and Stockyards Administration, and that the continued
activity of a licensee may cause irreparable injury or loss to persons engaged in business with the
licensee, the commissioner may, without hearing, suspend the license of the licensee, provided
that when a license is so suspended, the commissioner shall immediately initiate procedures to
afford the licensee a hearing pursuant to subdivision 7 except that the ten days' notice required in
subdivision 7 may be waived by the licensee.
History: 1974 c 347 s 4; 1977 c 299 s 3,4; 1978 c 674 s 60; 1980 c 467 s 31; 1981 c 356
s 257; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1983 c 293 s 30; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 19-22; 1985 c 233 s 1-3; 1986 c
322 s 1,2; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 358 s 39; 1987 c 384 art 2 s 6; 1991 c 288 s 5; 1997 c 131 s 1;
1Sp2001 c 4 art 6 s 77; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 10

17A.05 AMOUNT OF BONDS.
    Subdivision 1. Livestock market agencies. The amount of each livestock market agency
bond filed with the commissioner shall be not less than $10,000 or such larger amount as required,
based on the commissioner's consideration of the principal's financial statement, the volume of
business reported, or any other factor the commissioner deems pertinent for the protection of the
public. Each such bond shall be executed on a Packers and Stockyards Act form and shall contain
the condition clause applicable when the principal sells on commission. A bond equivalent
executed in accordance with the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended, (United States
Code, title 7, section 181 et seq.) is acceptable.
    Subd. 2. Livestock dealers. The amount of each livestock dealer bond filed with the
commissioner shall be not less than $10,000 or such larger amount as required, based on the
commissioner's consideration of the principal's financial statement, the volume of business
reported, or any other factor the commissioner deems pertinent for the protection of the public.
Each such bond shall contain the condition clause applicable when the principal buys on
commission or as a dealer. A livestock dealer's bond shall be executed on a form furnished by
the commissioner or in accordance with the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended,
(United States Code, title 7, section 181 et seq.).
When a bond is executed on a state form furnished by the commissioner, the bond shall be
for the protection of both the buyer and the seller named in the transaction when the principal fails
to pay when due for livestock purchased or sold for the principal's own account or the account of
others and shall be limited to the protection of claimants whose residence or principal place of
livestock business is in the state of Minnesota at the time of the transaction. If the bond is filed
on a form in accordance with the Packers and Stockyards Act, the bond shall cover claimants
regardless of place of residence.
History: 1974 c 347 s 5; 1977 c 299 s 5; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 23; 1986 c 444; 2000 c 477 s 4

17A.06 CLAIMS AGAINST BONDS.
    Subdivision 1. Filing of claims. Any person claiming to be damaged by any breach of the
conditions of a bond given by a licensee may enter complaint thereof to the commissioner, which
complaint shall be a written statement of the facts constituting the complaint, accompanied by
documentary proof of the claim against the licensee.
    Subd. 2. Hearing on claims. In case of default by the licensee, the commissioner shall have
the power to have the matter heard as a contested case pursuant to procedures outlined in chapter
14. No hearing shall be required if all affected parties to a bond claim proceeding waive their right
to a hearing and agree to accept the commissioner's determination as to the validity of the claim
and the allocation of the proceeds of the bond.
    Subd. 3. Public notice. Prior to a hearing, the commissioner shall publish a notice setting
forth the default of the licensee and requiring all claimants to file proof of claim with the
commissioner within 45 days of the date such notice is published or be barred from participating
in the proceeds of the bond. Such publication shall be made in a newspaper published in the
county in which the licensee's principal place of business is located. The commissioner shall also
fulfill any notice requirements prescribed by chapter 14 and rules of the Office of Administrative
Hearings. No claim shall be allowed unless it is filed with the commissioner within one year of
the date of the transaction. If a livestock market agency or livestock dealer has on file a Packers
and Stockyards Act bond and is registered with the Packers and Stockyards Administration, the
terms of the bond or that federal agency's regulations will control.
History: 1974 c 347 s 6; 1977 c 299 s 7; 1977 c 346 s 2,3; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1983 c 216
art 1 s 8; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 24; 1986 c 444

17A.07 PROHIBITED CONDUCT.
It shall be unlawful for any person to (1) carry on the business of a livestock market
agency, livestock dealer, or public stockyard without a valid and effective license issued by the
commissioner under the provisions of section 17A.04; (2) carry on the business of a livestock
market agency or livestock dealer without filing and maintaining a valid and effective surety bond
in conformity with sections 17A.04 and 17A.05; (3) carry on the business of a livestock market
agency or livestock dealer if the person cannot pay debts as they become due or ceases to pay
debts in the ordinary course of business as they become due; (4) use or allow to be used any
livestock scale or monorail scale which has not been certified and approved for official use or has
been found to be inaccurate; (5) fail to maintain and operate livestock or monorail scales in a
manner to ensure accurate and correct weights; (6) weigh livestock or carcasses at other than true
and correct weights or issue accounts and records on the basis of inaccurate or incorrect weights;
(7) engage in or use any unfair or deceptive practice or device in connection with marketing of
livestock; (8) willfully make or cause to be made any false entry or statement of fact in any
application, financial statement or report filed with the department under this chapter.
History: 1974 c 347 s 7; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 25; 1986 c 444

17A.08 RECORD KEEPING.
Every person shall make and retain such accounts, records, and memoranda necessary to
fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in the person's business, including the true
ownership of such business by stockholding or otherwise. Whenever the commissioner finds that
the accounts, records, and memoranda of any such person do not fully and correctly disclose all
transactions involved in the person's business, the commissioner may prescribe the manner or
form and length of time for retention which such accounts, records, and memoranda shall be kept.
The commissioner shall at all reasonable times have access to, for the purpose of examination, and
the right to copy any documentary evidence of any person being investigated or proceeded against.
History: 1974 c 347 s 8; 1986 c 444

17A.09 FEEDER PIG MARKETS.
The commissioner may, by rules promulgated in accordance with sections 14.05 to 14.28,
establish requirements for record making and retention, of livestock purchases and sales by
operators of feeder pig markets, as the commissioner deems necessary to protect the public.
History: 1974 c 347 s 9; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1995 c 233 art 2 s 56

17A.091    Subdivision 1.[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 2 s 162]
    Subd. 2.[Repealed, 1996 c 310 s 1]

17A.10 LIVESTOCK SCALES AND WEIGHING.
    Subdivision 1. Commercial livestock scales. All livestock scales and monorail scales used
for the purpose of buying or selling livestock or livestock carcasses within the state must meet the
construction, maintenance, testing, and certification requirements of the Division of Weights and
Measures of the Department of Commerce, and be in compliance with the scales and weighing
regulations of the Packers and Stockyards Administration of the United States Department of
Agriculture and be tested and certified by the state Division of Weights and Measures. The
Division of Weights and Measures or an authorized scale company shall test all livestock scales at
least twice per year. The Department of Agriculture may perform scale maintenance inspections
at least twice per year at intervals that will provide alternate testing or inspection of each scale
every 90 days. Special tests may be required as necessary. The basic maintenance tolerance for
livestock scales is one pound per 1,000 pounds of test load. The responsibility for compliance of a
scale with these requirements rests with the owner or manager of the scale.
    Subd. 2. State livestock weighmasters. The commissioner shall appoint state employees as
necessary to provide state weighing service at public stockyards, packing plants, slaughtering
houses, buying stations, or livestock market agencies on application from the business entity
requesting official state livestock weighing. State livestock weighmasters shall weigh all livestock
coming to these places for sale, keep a record of the weights, and furnish the interested parties a
certificate of state weight stating the number of animals weighed and the weight of the animals.
The certificate is prima facie evidence of the facts certified. An application for official state
livestock weighing constitutes an agreement between the business entity requesting state weighing
and the commissioner. The agreement is for one year beginning July 1 and ending the following
June 30. The agreement automatically renews each year unless the business entity gives the
commissioner a written notice of intent to terminate at least 360 days prior to July 1. Otherwise the
commissioner shall continue to provide state weighing services in accordance with this chapter.
    Subd. 3. Supervision and enforcement. State livestock weighmasters have charge over the
scales on which official certificates of state weight are issued to ensure compliance with scale
maintenance and testing requirements and proper weighing procedures.
The commissioner shall appoint law compliance personnel as necessary to provide
maintenance inspections, checkweighing, comparison weighing, and record audits and to
investigate complaints in order to enforce this chapter.
The regulations pertaining to livestock and monorail scales adopted by the Packers and
Stockyards Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture are applicable in
Minnesota, and a memorandum of understanding with the Packers and Stockyards Administration
provides for a cooperative state and federal enforcement program.
History: 1974 c 347 s 10; 1977 c 299 s 8; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 26; 1Sp1985 c 10 s 44;
1Sp2001 c 4 art 6 s 77

17A.11 FEES FOR LIVESTOCK WEIGHING.
The commissioner shall prescribe the fee necessary to cover the cost of state weighing, to be
assessed and collected from the seller in the manner the commissioner may prescribe. The fee
assessed must be the same, and the manner of collection of the fee must be uniform at all facilities.
At any location where state weighing is performed in accordance with this chapter and the total
annual fees collected are insufficient to pay the cost of the weighing, the annual deficit shall be
assessed and collected in the manner the commissioner may prescribe. Additional money arising
from the weighing of animals by the commissioner, which has been collected and retained by any
person, shall be paid on demand to the commissioner. All money collected by the commissioner
shall be deposited in the agricultural fund and credited to the livestock weighing account. Money
in the account is appropriated to the commissioner to carry out the duties of section 17A.10 and
for activities and duties required under chapter 31B.
History: 1974 c 347 s 11; 1977 c 299 s 9; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 27; 1985 c 241 s 1; 1Sp1985
c 10 s 45; 1993 c 172 s 22; 1999 c 231 s 36

17A.12 QUALIFICATIONS.
No state livestock weighmaster shall, during the weighmaster's term of service, be in any
manner financially interested in the handling, shipping, purchase, or sale of livestock or in the
employment of any person engaged therein.
History: 1974 c 347 s 12; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 28

17A.13 GROSS MISDEMEANORS.
Any weigher who shall knowingly or carelessly weigh any livestock improperly, or give
any false certificate of weight, or accept money or other consideration directly or indirectly for
any neglect or improper performance of duty, or who shall be guilty of any neglect of duty,
and any person who shall improperly influence or attempt to influence any such weigher in the
performance of a duty by preventing proper access to the scales used in the weighing of livestock,
or otherwise, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
History: 1974 c 347 s 13; 1986 c 444

17A.14 PENALTIES.
    Subdivision 1. Criminal penalties. Any person, duly licensed or otherwise, who violates this
chapter, for which violation a penalty has not been specifically set out, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Any subsequent violation is a gross misdemeanor.
    Subd. 2. Civil penalties. (a) The commissioner, as an alternate to misdemeanor prosecution,
may impose a civil penalty on a person who violates a statute or rule enforceable by the
commissioner. For a first violation, the commissioner may impose a civil penalty of not more than
$500 for each violation. For a second or succeeding violation, the commissioner may impose a
penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation.
(b) In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the commissioner may consider:
(1) the willfulness of the violation;
(2) the gravity of the violation;
(3) the person's history of past violations;
(4) the number of violations;
(5) the economic benefit from the violations; and
(6) other factors identified in the commissioner's citation.
(c) For a second or succeeding violation, the commissioner shall determine the amount of a
penalty by considering the factors in paragraph (b) and:
(1) similarity between the violations;
(2) time elapsed since the last violation; and
(3) the person's response to the most recent violation.
History: 1974 c 347 s 14; 1981 c 54 s 3; 1991 c 288 s 6

17A.145 CIVIL PENALTY PROCEDURES.
    Subdivision 1. Citation. If the commissioner believes that a person has violated this chapter
or a rule or order adopted under this chapter, the commissioner shall issue a written citation to the
person by personal service or by certified mail. The citation must describe with particularity the
nature of the violation, including a reference to the statute, rule, or order alleged to have been
violated. In addition, the citation must fix a reasonable time for the abatement of the violation and
notify the person of the penalty, if any, proposed to be assessed. The citation must also advise
that the person has 30 working days within which to notify the commissioner in writing that the
person wishes to contest the citation, proposed penalty assessment, or time allowed for correction.
The commissioner may issue notices instead of citations with respect to minor violations if the
commissioner believes a notice will best serve the public interest.
    Subd. 2. Final order. If within 30 working days after receiving the commissioner's notice or
citation the person fails to notify the commissioner in writing that the person intends to contest the
citation, proposed penalty, assessment, or time allowed for correction in the citation, the citation
and assessment as proposed become a final order and are not subject to further review. For good
cause shown the commissioner may extend the time period for responding.
    Subd. 3. Appeal. The time allowed for correcting a violation does not begin to run until the
entry of a final order if the person has initiated review proceedings under this section in good
faith. If the commissioner has reason to believe that a person has failed to correct a violation for
which a citation has been issued within the time allowed, the commissioner shall notify the person
by certified mail of the failure. The notification must state the penalty proposed to be assessed for
the failure under section 17A.14 and must state that the person has 30 working days to notify
the commissioner in writing that the person wishes to contest the notification or the proposed
penalty assessment. If within 30 working days after receiving the notification the person fails to
notify the commissioner in writing that the person intends to contest the notification or proposed
penalty assessment, the notification and assessment as proposed become a final order and are not
subject to further review. For good cause shown the commissioner may extend the time period
for responding.
    Subd. 4. Citation contest. If a person who has received a citation or a proposed penalty
assessment notifies the commissioner that the person intends to contest the citation or the
proposed penalty assessment within the time limits in subdivisions 2 and 3, the commissioner
shall file a complaint with the Office of Administrative Hearings and serve a copy on the
respondent by first class mail. The complaint must be served and copies filed within 40 days of
receiving the notice of contest. The complaint must set forth all alleged violations and proposed
penalties that are contested.
    Subd. 5. Contested case hearing. Notwithstanding chapter 14, after an answer has been
timely filed the case must be heard as a contested case except that the report of the administrative
law judge is the final decision of the Department of Agriculture.
History: 1991 c 288 s 7

17A.15 POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.
The commissioner shall enforce the provisions of Laws 1974, chapter 347 and shall
promulgate, in the manner provided by law, such rules as the commissioner deems necessary
or desirable, and may cooperate with any department of state or government, to carry out the
provisions of sections 17A.01 to 17A.15. The commissioner or a duly authorized agent shall have
the power to issue subpoenas, administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses, receive
evidence, and shall have the power to require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of
witnesses and the production of all such documentary evidence relating to any matter under
investigation or administrative proceeding.
History: 1974 c 347 s 15; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444

17A.151 DUTY TO PROSECUTE.
It is the duty of each county attorney or city attorney to whom the commissioner reports
a violation of this chapter to cause appropriate proceedings to be instituted in the proper courts
without delay and to be prosecuted in the manner required by law. Before a violation of this
chapter is reported to a county attorney or city attorney for the institution of a criminal proceeding,
the person against whom the proceeding is contemplated must be given appropriate notice and an
opportunity to present views before the commissioner or the commissioner's designated agent,
either orally or in writing, in person, or by attorney, with regard to the contemplated proceeding.
History: 1991 c 288 s 8

17A.16 INJUNCTIVE REMEDY.
The operation of a livestock market agency or the buying or selling of livestock as a
dealer by a person not licensed and bonded as required by this chapter may be enjoined by the
district court on petition from the commissioner upon a showing that a person is engaged in the
business of a livestock market agency or livestock dealer as defined in section 17A.03 without
the license and bond required by this chapter. The court shall enjoin the person from further
activities as a livestock market agency or livestock dealer until the license and bond have been
properly obtained. It is not necessary to show that any individual has been injured by the actions
complained of in order to obtain the issuance of the injunction. The injunctive relief provided by
this section is an additional remedy to the criminal penalties provided in this chapter.
History: 1981 c 54 s 4

17A.17 AUDIT BY DEPARTMENT.
The department may audit records, including incoming purchase records of a livestock
packer and shipping weights or transfer of weight invoices, in order to ensure there are no weight
discrepancies in hot weight or grade and yield transactions.
History: 1984 c 654 art 3 s 29