NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — A complaint has been filed against the New Wilmington Livestock Auction, Inc., but the sales owner claims it is a paperwork mix-up.
Complaint filed
The USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration filed the complaint April 15 against the auction and the owner, Tom Skelton, of Canfield, Ohio.
The complaint alleges the auction failed to have the scales tested at six-month intervals and did not furnish a copy of the report to the regional director in the Midwestern Regional office since Oct. 18, 2006. It also alleges livestock was sold using the scale that had not been tested in accordance with the Packers and Stockyards Act.
Paperwork
But Skelton told Farm and Dairy the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture inspects the scales once a year and they have always passed. He added the problem is a paperwork problem, but he has complied with the regulations.
Scales tested
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures Inspection division, the New Wilmington Livestock Auction scales have been inspected in 2008 and 2009. The website does not have any other information on prior years.
However, the website does list the scales being tested May 8, 2008. Two large scales and one medium scale was tested at that time and passed inspection.
The scales were also tested May 27, 2009. One large scale and one medium scale was tested and passed inspection.
Response
Skelton has 20 days to respond to the complaint.
According to GIPSA, the act authorizes up to a fine of $11,000 per violation, if the auction is found to have violated the rules. This would mean that the fine would be for each time the auction failed to have the scales tested.
