A–PLUS Act

This bill tells the U.S. Department of Agriculture to change its rules so that livestock auction owners and small meatpacking businesses can have ownership or management ties with each other, as long as the meatpacker is small. It also requires clear disclosure to livestock sellers whenever an auction has a financial or management connection with a packer. The rule change must happen within one year. The bill keeps USDA’s power to protect producers, keep markets fair, and prevent conflicts of interest.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Livestock auctions (market agencies), small meatpackers, and livestock sellers.
• What changes: Cross-ownership or management ties are allowed between auctions and small packers, with a disclosure requirement to sellers.
• Size limits for “small” packers: Less than 2,000 cattle/sheep per day (or 700,000 per year), or less than 10,000 hogs per day (or 3,000,000 per year).
• When: USDA must update the rules within 1 year of the law taking effect.
• Safeguards: USDA keeps authority to protect producers, competition, market integrity, and prevent conflicts of interest.