Dealer Statutory Trust Passed in COVID Relief Package

Livestock Marketing Association applauds Congress for passing Livestock Dealer Statutory Trust, ensuring payment protection for livestock sellers.

The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) applauds Congress for passing Dealer Statutory Trust in the COVID relief package. A Dealer Statutory Trust will provide sellers of livestock much-needed payment protection during dealer payment defaults.

“LMA is grateful for the tremendous leadership of Congress to correct a fundamental unfairness in the current law where livestock sellers often cannot get livestock back when payment does not come through,” says LMA President Larry Schnell. “This is a top-priority issue for livestock auctions, which pay producers whether or not we are paid by buyers, and have been devastated by past defaults.”

The creation of a Dealer Statutory Trust, modeled after the existing Packer Statutory Trust, will give unpaid sellers of livestock first priority in livestock or if the livestock have already been resold, the proceeds/receivables from livestock.

While this protection for livestock sellers has long been needed, the volatile down market in cattle prices due to COVID-19 increased the urgency of addressing this issue.

Special thanks go to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D‑MN), both of whom have been instrumental in moving this legislation forward. Recognition is also due to the original lead co-sponsors of Securing All Livestock Equitably (SALE) Act, (H.R. 6067, S. 3419), which would create a Dealer Statutory Trust. Congressmen Roger Marshall (R‑KS) and Jim Costa (D‑CA) led this effort in the House, and Senators Jim Inhofe (R‑OK) and Tina Smith (D‑MN) championed the cause in the Senate.

Additional co-sponsors of the SALE Act include Representatives Don Bacon (R‑NE), Sanford Bishop Jr. (D‑GA), Anthony Brindisi (D‑NY), Cheri Bustos (D‑IL), Liz Cheney (R‑WY), James Comer (R‑KY), TJ Cox (D‑CA), Angie Craig (D‑MN), Eric Crawford (R‑AR), Rodney Davis (R‑IL), Jeff Fortenberry (R‑NE), Jim Hagedorn (R‑MN), Josh Harder (D‑CA), Vicky Hartzler (R‑MO), Dusty Johnson (R‑SD), Trent Kelly (R‑MS) and Terri A. Sewell (D‑AL). Senators John Barrasso (R‑WY), Marsha Blackburn (R‑TN), John Boozman (R‑AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R‑WV), Tom Cotton (R‑AR), Kevin Cramer (R‑ND), Steve Daines (R‑MT), Michael Enzi (R‑WY), Joni Ernst (R‑IA), Deb Fischer (R‑NE), Chuck Grassley (R‑IA), John Hoeven (R‑ND), Cindy Hyde‑Smith (R‑MS), Doug Jones (D‑AL), Jerry Moran (R‑KS), Marco Rubio (R‑FL), Ben Sasse (R‑NE), Jon Tester (D‑MT) and John Thune (R‑SD) are additional co-sponsors of the SALE Act in the Senate.

Editor’s note: This article is from LMA. Photo by Brett Spader.