US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

7 U.S.C. § 201

“Stockyard owner”; “stockyard services”; “market agency”; “dealer”; defined

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 , 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.

Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 6442 Stat. 163Pub. L. 85–909, § 2(1)72 Stat. 1750Pub. L. 94–410, § 3(c)90 Stat. 1249Pub. L. 114–237, § 2130 Stat. 970(, title III, § 301, ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 114–237, § 2(b)(1)2016—, substituted “In this chapter:” for “When used in this chapter—” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 114–237, § 2(b)(2)Subsec. (a). , substituted period for semicolon at end.

Pub. L. 114–237, § 2(b)(3)(B)Subsec. (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.

Pub. L. 114–237, § 2(a)Subsec. (c). , substituted period for “; and” after “stockyard services” and inserted at end “Beginning on , 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.”

Pub. L. 94–4101976—Subsecs. (b) to (d). substituted “livestock” for “live stock”.

Pub. L. 85–9091958—Subsecs. (c), (d). struck out “at a stockyard” after “livestock”.