<enum>I</enum><header>Agricultural fair practices</header> <section id="H4E364B8043CD4DCAA1FB6649769451D"><enum>101.</enum><header>Agricultural fair practices</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2301">7 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="HA627AC739085466EB63C3FB6C93E7586"> <section id="H007A463DF42B40058F5960AF493EC3D5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title; table of contents</header> <subsection id="H7F31DAE79B3649708B310059330991F0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>This Act may be cited as the <quote>Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HD8F4895137FB4FE2B28D50E381E7199"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents of this Act is as follows:</text> <toc> <toc-entry idref="H007A463DF42B40058F5960AF493EC3D5" level="section">Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H5F7A7D93C1F6401300E2AE009343402E" level="section">Sec. 2. Definitions.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H439B726E774A417DB03D3CB4F68EE1C6" level="title">TITLE I—Agricultural trade practices</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H0DB21A08604040FC8CD08FB4679A5E2" level="section">Sec. 101. Office of Special Counsel for Competition Matters.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H3DD5370415D24F9AA9D1693487D1DA93" level="title">TITLE II—Prohibitions on any unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice in agricultural commerce</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HFCC7FEAA671F46ACAE93EA3F85163E4F" level="section">Sec. 201. Prohibitions involving crops.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HF406B2ACC2C14F8DAE4BF5BAAD005D2C" level="section">Sec. 202. Prohibitions involving producer associations and production contracts.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HF47DBB45102245B9A99E9E71525B5233" level="section">Sec. 203. Production contracts and marketing contracts.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HA7B15359DEC44F33942DF598655800F3" level="section">Sec. 204. Production contracts.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H19C2EB98985145639E907D9E446F63C" level="section">Sec. 205. Authority of Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HE058C5CAD81B4159B0803000AF373C92" level="section">Sec. 206. Enforcement.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H3796654D618B4A0BAF8B663E77C29975" level="section">Sec. 207. Effect on other laws.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H4ED7756F2EE34541A6769193C3E433B" level="section">Sec. 208. Assignment of association dues and fees.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HB7D643E195304E99878841CD10BB8E52" level="section">Sec. 209. Severability.</toc-entry> </toc> </subsection></section><section id="H5F7A7D93C1F6401300E2AE009343402E"><enum>2.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this Act:</text> <paragraph id="H8AA62BB0A1B744BDA03E57EABC886429"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agricultural commodity</header> <subparagraph id="H2318A6ED6B534F6CA758D1F72D0039C8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term <term>agricultural commodity</term> has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the <act-name parsable-cite="ATA78">Agricultural Trade Act of 1978</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/5602">7 U.S.C. 5602</external-xref>).</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H95088C8395F24D0A9F3CB9F6F9FE071C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>In section 201, the term <term>agricultural commodity</term>—</text> <clause id="H580C5CD29A1F4EFE903EEA461BFB00FC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>means a crop; and</text> </clause><clause id="HF8C5B811F75D4CD08000E7D8E6AB849D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>does not include a perishable agricultural commodity, as that term is defined in section 1(b) of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/499a">7 U.S.C. 499a(b)</external-xref>).</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFE62902C57DE4691A282E1946DA1B3D6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Agricultural cooperative</header><text>The term <term>agricultural cooperative</term> means an association of persons engaged in the production, marketing, or processing of an agricultural commodity that meets the requirements of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize association of producers of agricultural products</quote> (commonly known as the <quote>Capper-Volstead Act</quote>) (7 U.S.C. 291 et seq.).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H29CF14379B8540399FC8890029AFD28C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Association of producers</header> <subparagraph id="HF4DD150F4285443383BFD649A0EAC8BC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>association of producers</term> means an association of producers of agricultural commodities that engages in the marketing, bargaining, shipping, or processing of agricultural commodities or of agricultural services.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H72CB89EE158F4D10B983DDFBF446CF14"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The term <term>association of producers</term> includes—</text> <clause id="H5BDBC07154284D419813FA2D17F47680"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an organization dedicated to promoting the common interest and general welfare of producers of agricultural commodities;</text> </clause><clause id="HB73B526EC39E4F79B9755EA5C93C7D2E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a cooperative association (as defined in section 15(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/12/1141j">12 U.S.C. 1141j(a)</external-xref>)); and</text> </clause><clause id="HFF345979C4FE4356A6B45D8046008663"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>an association described in the first section of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize association of producers of agricultural products</quote> (commonly known as the <quote>Capper-Volstead Act</quote>) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/291">7 U.S.C. 291</external-xref>).</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0F3D49EE50D74FC3B0488F2BD374A1B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Capital investment</header><text>The term <term>capital investment</term> means an investment in—</text> <subparagraph id="H56852214A59349B3B8C2B5286CFB9114"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a structure, such as a building or manure storage structure; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H14E0FA2EA69D46F3BE2224C56D87249E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>machinery or equipment associated with producing an agricultural commodity that has a useful life of more than 1 year.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB98FCB70B3C84C320027AFE8CF21E98"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Commission merchant</header><text>The term <term>commission merchant</term> means any person engaged in the business of receiving in interstate or foreign commerce any agricultural commodity for sale on commission.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H97C5D070D0EA4278AC6EE69F95C716BB"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Contract livestock facility</header><text>The term <term>contract livestock facility</term> means a facility in which livestock or a product of live livestock is produced under a production contract by a contract producer.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H666E3E53BF15465AA141DA46C2F38D09"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Contractor</header><text>The term <term>contractor</term> means a person that, in accordance with a production contract, owns, or will own, an agricultural commodity that is produced by a contract producer.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H5567B96547B44119AC10804B454800E5"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Contract producer</header><text>The term <term>contract producer</term> means a producer that produces an agricultural commodity under a production contract.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H0DC289ED43CF4CD79D67216502A3002B"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Covered person</header><text>The term <term>covered person</term> means a dealer, handler, contractor, processor, or commission merchant.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H38C5D95583D84F11A1D4EBCDD2B0E064"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Crop</header><text>The term <term>crop</term> means an agricultural commodity produced from a plant.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9A317D64E9904EA4A8D800DA25775662"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Dealer</header><text>The term <term>dealer</term> means any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or marketing agricultural commodities in interstate or foreign commerce.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H84D9A8E8F8794A219DECCEB7E259CD3"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Department</header><text>The term <term>Department</term> means the Department of Agriculture.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H6BF90ACC994A4013B1E87506C9EEC9A0"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Handler</header><text>The term <term>handler</term> means any person engaged in the business or practice of—</text> <subparagraph id="H1F5056DD31314E8CA1DE1BBD3C6C71D1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>acquiring agricultural commodities from producers or associations of producers for processing or sale;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H915D1352B25D46E897CCCBAE1E43ADD9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>grading, packaging, handling, storing, or processing agricultural commodities received from producers or associations of producers;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H88A4247F99C644B0A6DB1BC1B8BD6C74"><enum>(C)</enum><text>contracting or negotiating contracts or other arrangements, written or oral, with or on behalf of producers or associations of producers with respect to the production or marketing of any agricultural commodity; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5856E0FCE79A418983F2E8592E773F1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>acting as an agent or broker for a handler in the performance of any function or act described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HAFEC7CAB191C454A805E80423B628980"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Investment requirement</header><text>The term <term>investment requirement</term> means a provision in a production contract that requires a contract producer to make a capital investment associated with producing an agricultural commodity that, but for the production contract, the contract producer would not have made.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H2F0789C509FE4DA80042FEF938741745"><enum>(15)</enum><header>Livestock</header><text>The term <term>livestock</term> has the meaning given the term in section 602 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1471">7 U.S.C. 1471</external-xref>).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE6B399BB1B2D41A19FBCAAF76FE4CCB"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Marketing contract</header><text>The term <term>marketing contract</term> means a written agreement between a covered person and a producer for the purchase of an agricultural commodity produced or raised by the producer.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H1A26B575ADE04701B22C95490380A798"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Person</header><text>The term <term>person</term> includes an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or association.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H67882F3A300D4DDE009C8349659CDD7C"><enum>(18)</enum><header>Processor</header><text>The term <term>processor</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="H4E38FFF06C4D4832A2CB368152AA1446"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any person (other than an agricultural cooperative) engaged in the business of handling, preparing, or manufacturing (including slaughtering) an agricultural commodity or the products of an agricultural commodity for sale or marketing in interstate or foreign commerce; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE83A239B4EF84ED29E473F4C3DFA873C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an agricultural cooperative that handles, prepares, or manufactures (including slaughtering) agricultural commodities of its members’ own production.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB29B6FB4AE084622AE1D00D51F844FD0"><enum>(19)</enum><header>Produce</header><text>The term <term>produce</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="H14B8507436204E67AFEDE5D62B67937F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to provide feed or services relating to the care and feeding of livestock, including milking dairy cattle and storing raw milk; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H636747CDD4C14CDCB167B04DCD074B8F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to plant, raise, harvest, and store a crop, including preparing soil for planting and applying a fertilizer, soil conditioner, or pesticide to a crop.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC24C0A93347417ABF9B8F00CA09CA37"><enum>(20)</enum><header>Producer</header><text>The term <term>producer</term> means a person engaged in the production of an agricultural commodity as a farmer, planter, rancher, dairyman, poultryman, or fruit, vegetable, or nut grower.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H3C44A26CA19F4F318ECD9430C8459712"><enum>(21)</enum><header>Production contract</header> <subparagraph id="HFC56FFC322F04BB08FEB11A4CD77FE2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>production contract</term> means a written agreement that provides for—</text> <clause id="HC7136C877B77441188DB82E4D02B94E1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the production of an agricultural commodity by a contract producer; or</text> </clause><clause id="H939A4E796E5E496089001F6CAC425E92"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the provision of a management service relating to the production of an agricultural commodity by a contract producer.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26005854723C4B4A916BDEF1FFAE9C9D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The term <term>production contract</term> includes—</text> <clause id="H6D6CDC6644344F06A4BBADC703D9FC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a contract between a contractor and a contract producer for the production of an agricultural commodity; or</text> </clause><clause id="H0B34EF469D7C441487C5BDA54A523A1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a contract between a contractor and a contract producer for the provision of a management service in the production of an agricultural commodity.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC64C1897BF754B8190E56723AA01701F"><enum>(22)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text> </paragraph></section><title id="H439B726E774A417DB03D3CB4F68EE1C6"><enum>I</enum><header>Agricultural trade practices</header> <section id="H0DB21A08604040FC8CD08FB4679A5E2"><enum>101.</enum><header>Office of Special Counsel for Competition Matters</header> <subsection id="H85ADAB9480014B6189ECE52CD700552C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header> <paragraph id="HF46BB0E4488C4F569636A29C809F7582"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established within the Department an office to be known as the <quote>Office of Special Counsel for Competition Matters</quote>.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9B8EBC53CFF44E04B2A44D38E09D2D10"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The Office shall—</text> <subparagraph id="H98975425A0B24816A5031E7CAFB77BFC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>investigate and prosecute violations of this Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBD4E1BB5EC0444A3B213E100A63D3535"><enum>(B)</enum><text>serve as a liaison between, and act in consultation with, the Department and the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade practices in the food and agricultural sector; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC597789AD5BB46318C55B9BC36FB1BE8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with the appropriate expertise.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD7D02F6CAA044AB49725C31699BBFE28"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Special Counsel for Competition Matters</header> <paragraph id="H2AAC4BF57EB449BFA7DEFCDD411188CF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Office shall be headed by the Special Counsel for Competition Matters, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF7B825CB2C6949EEBF89473D9DEFF785"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prosecutorial Authority</header><text>Notwithstanding title 28, United States Code, the Special Counsel for Competition Matters shall have the authority to bring any civil or administrative action authorized under this Act or the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/181">7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.</external-xref>).</text> </paragraph></subsection></section>

110 HR 2135 IH: Competitive and Fair U.S. House of Representatives 2007-05-03 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Competitive and Fair Agricultural Markets Act of 2007

. (b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

TITLE I—Agricultural fair practices

Sec. 101. Agricultural fair practices.

Sec. 102. Application.

TITLE II—Packers and stockyards

Sec. 201. Investigation of live poultry dealers.

Sec. 202. No competitive injury requirement.

Sec. 203. Attorneys' fees.

Sec. 204. Appointment of outside counsel.

Sec. 205. Regulations.

<enum>I</enum><header>Agricultural fair practices</header> <section id="H4E364B8043CD4DCAA1FB6649769451D"><enum>101.</enum><header>Agricultural fair practices</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2301">7 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="HA627AC739085466EB63C3FB6C93E7586"> <section id="H007A463DF42B40058F5960AF493EC3D5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title; table of contents</header> <subsection id="H7F31DAE79B3649708B310059330991F0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>This Act may be cited as the <quote>Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HD8F4895137FB4FE2B28D50E381E7199"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents of this Act is as follows:</text> <toc> <toc-entry idref="H007A463DF42B40058F5960AF493EC3D5" level="section">Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H5F7A7D93C1F6401300E2AE009343402E" level="section">Sec. 2. Definitions.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H439B726E774A417DB03D3CB4F68EE1C6" level="title">TITLE I—Agricultural trade practices</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H0DB21A08604040FC8CD08FB4679A5E2" level="section">Sec. 101. Office of Special Counsel for Competition Matters.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H3DD5370415D24F9AA9D1693487D1DA93" level="title">TITLE II—Prohibitions on any unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice in agricultural commerce</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HFCC7FEAA671F46ACAE93EA3F85163E4F" level="section">Sec. 201. Prohibitions involving crops.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HF406B2ACC2C14F8DAE4BF5BAAD005D2C" level="section">Sec. 202. Prohibitions involving producer associations and production contracts.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HF47DBB45102245B9A99E9E71525B5233" level="section">Sec. 203. Production contracts and marketing contracts.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HA7B15359DEC44F33942DF598655800F3" level="section">Sec. 204. Production contracts.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H19C2EB98985145639E907D9E446F63C" level="section">Sec. 205. Authority of Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HE058C5CAD81B4159B0803000AF373C92" level="section">Sec. 206. Enforcement.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H3796654D618B4A0BAF8B663E77C29975" level="section">Sec. 207. Effect on other laws.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="H4ED7756F2EE34541A6769193C3E433B" level="section">Sec. 208. Assignment of association dues and fees.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="HB7D643E195304E99878841CD10BB8E52" level="section">Sec. 209. Severability.</toc-entry> </toc> </subsection></section><section id="H5F7A7D93C1F6401300E2AE009343402E"><enum>2.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this Act:</text> <paragraph id="H8AA62BB0A1B744BDA03E57EABC886429"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agricultural commodity</header> <subparagraph id="H2318A6ED6B534F6CA758D1F72D0039C8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term <term>agricultural commodity</term> has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the <act-name parsable-cite="ATA78">Agricultural Trade Act of 1978</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/5602">7 U.S.C. 5602</external-xref>).</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H95088C8395F24D0A9F3CB9F6F9FE071C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>In section 201, the term <term>agricultural commodity</term>—</text> <clause id="H580C5CD29A1F4EFE903EEA461BFB00FC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>means a crop; and</text> </clause><clause id="HF8C5B811F75D4CD08000E7D8E6AB849D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>does not include a perishable agricultural commodity, as that term is defined in section 1(b) of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/499a">7 U.S.C. 499a(b)</external-xref>).</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFE62902C57DE4691A282E1946DA1B3D6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Agricultural cooperative</header><text>The term <term>agricultural cooperative</term> means an association of persons engaged in the production, marketing, or processing of an agricultural commodity that meets the requirements of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize association of producers of agricultural products</quote> (commonly known as the <quote>Capper-Volstead Act</quote>) (7 U.S.C. 291 et seq.).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H29CF14379B8540399FC8890029AFD28C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Association of producers</header> <subparagraph id="HF4DD150F4285443383BFD649A0EAC8BC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>association of producers</term> means an association of producers of agricultural commodities that engages in the marketing, bargaining, shipping, or processing of agricultural commodities or of agricultural services.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H72CB89EE158F4D10B983DDFBF446CF14"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The term <term>association of producers</term> includes—</text> <clause id="H5BDBC07154284D419813FA2D17F47680"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an organization dedicated to promoting the common interest and general welfare of producers of agricultural commodities;</text> </clause><clause id="HB73B526EC39E4F79B9755EA5C93C7D2E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a cooperative association (as defined in section 15(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/12/1141j">12 U.S.C. 1141j(a)</external-xref>)); and</text> </clause><clause id="HFF345979C4FE4356A6B45D8046008663"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>an association described in the first section of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize association of producers of agricultural products</quote> (commonly known as the <quote>Capper-Volstead Act</quote>) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/291">7 U.S.C. 291</external-xref>).</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0F3D49EE50D74FC3B0488F2BD374A1B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Capital investment</header><text>The term <term>capital investment</term> means an investment in—</text> <subparagraph id="H56852214A59349B3B8C2B5286CFB9114"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a structure, such as a building or manure storage structure; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H14E0FA2EA69D46F3BE2224C56D87249E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>machinery or equipment associated with producing an agricultural commodity that has a useful life of more than 1 year.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB98FCB70B3C84C320027AFE8CF21E98"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Commission merchant</header><text>The term <term>commission merchant</term> means any person engaged in the business of receiving in interstate or foreign commerce any agricultural commodity for sale on commission.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H97C5D070D0EA4278AC6EE69F95C716BB"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Contract livestock facility</header><text>The term <term>contract livestock facility</term> means a facility in which livestock or a product of live livestock is produced under a production contract by a contract producer.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H666E3E53BF15465AA141DA46C2F38D09"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Contractor</header><text>The term <term>contractor</term> means a person that, in accordance with a production contract, owns, or will own, an agricultural commodity that is produced by a contract producer.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H5567B96547B44119AC10804B454800E5"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Contract producer</header><text>The term <term>contract producer</term> means a producer that produces an agricultural commodity under a production contract.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H0DC289ED43CF4CD79D67216502A3002B"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Covered person</header><text>The term <term>covered person</term> means a dealer, handler, contractor, processor, or commission merchant.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H38C5D95583D84F11A1D4EBCDD2B0E064"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Crop</header><text>The term <term>crop</term> means an agricultural commodity produced from a plant.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9A317D64E9904EA4A8D800DA25775662"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Dealer</header><text>The term <term>dealer</term> means any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or marketing agricultural commodities in interstate or foreign commerce.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H84D9A8E8F8794A219DECCEB7E259CD3"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Department</header><text>The term <term>Department</term> means the Department of Agriculture.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H6BF90ACC994A4013B1E87506C9EEC9A0"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Handler</header><text>The term <term>handler</term> means any person engaged in the business or practice of—</text> <subparagraph id="H1F5056DD31314E8CA1DE1BBD3C6C71D1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>acquiring agricultural commodities from producers or associations of producers for processing or sale;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H915D1352B25D46E897CCCBAE1E43ADD9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>grading, packaging, handling, storing, or processing agricultural commodities received from producers or associations of producers;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H88A4247F99C644B0A6DB1BC1B8BD6C74"><enum>(C)</enum><text>contracting or negotiating contracts or other arrangements, written or oral, with or on behalf of producers or associations of producers with respect to the production or marketing of any agricultural commodity; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5856E0FCE79A418983F2E8592E773F1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>acting as an agent or broker for a handler in the performance of any function or act described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HAFEC7CAB191C454A805E80423B628980"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Investment requirement</header><text>The term <term>investment requirement</term> means a provision in a production contract that requires a contract producer to make a capital investment associated with producing an agricultural commodity that, but for the production contract, the contract producer would not have made.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H2F0789C509FE4DA80042FEF938741745"><enum>(15)</enum><header>Livestock</header><text>The term <term>livestock</term> has the meaning given the term in section 602 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1471">7 U.S.C. 1471</external-xref>).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE6B399BB1B2D41A19FBCAAF76FE4CCB"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Marketing contract</header><text>The term <term>marketing contract</term> means a written agreement between a covered person and a producer for the purchase of an agricultural commodity produced or raised by the producer.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H1A26B575ADE04701B22C95490380A798"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Person</header><text>The term <term>person</term> includes an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or association.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H67882F3A300D4DDE009C8349659CDD7C"><enum>(18)</enum><header>Processor</header><text>The term <term>processor</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="H4E38FFF06C4D4832A2CB368152AA1446"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any person (other than an agricultural cooperative) engaged in the business of handling, preparing, or manufacturing (including slaughtering) an agricultural commodity or the products of an agricultural commodity for sale or marketing in interstate or foreign commerce; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE83A239B4EF84ED29E473F4C3DFA873C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an agricultural cooperative that handles, prepares, or manufactures (including slaughtering) agricultural commodities of its members’ own production.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB29B6FB4AE084622AE1D00D51F844FD0"><enum>(19)</enum><header>Produce</header><text>The term <term>produce</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="H14B8507436204E67AFEDE5D62B67937F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to provide feed or services relating to the care and feeding of livestock, including milking dairy cattle and storing raw milk; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H636747CDD4C14CDCB167B04DCD074B8F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to plant, raise, harvest, and store a crop, including preparing soil for planting and applying a fertilizer, soil conditioner, or pesticide to a crop.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC24C0A93347417ABF9B8F00CA09CA37"><enum>(20)</enum><header>Producer</header><text>The term <term>producer</term> means a person engaged in the production of an agricultural commodity as a farmer, planter, rancher, dairyman, poultryman, or fruit, vegetable, or nut grower.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H3C44A26CA19F4F318ECD9430C8459712"><enum>(21)</enum><header>Production contract</header> <subparagraph id="HFC56FFC322F04BB08FEB11A4CD77FE2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>production contract</term> means a written agreement that provides for—</text> <clause id="HC7136C877B77441188DB82E4D02B94E1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the production of an agricultural commodity by a contract producer; or</text> </clause><clause id="H939A4E796E5E496089001F6CAC425E92"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the provision of a management service relating to the production of an agricultural commodity by a contract producer.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26005854723C4B4A916BDEF1FFAE9C9D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The term <term>production contract</term> includes—</text> <clause id="H6D6CDC6644344F06A4BBADC703D9FC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a contract between a contractor and a contract producer for the production of an agricultural commodity; or</text> </clause><clause id="H0B34EF469D7C441487C5BDA54A523A1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a contract between a contractor and a contract producer for the provision of a management service in the production of an agricultural commodity.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC64C1897BF754B8190E56723AA01701F"><enum>(22)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text> </paragraph></section><title id="H439B726E774A417DB03D3CB4F68EE1C6"><enum>I</enum><header>Agricultural trade practices</header> <section id="H0DB21A08604040FC8CD08FB4679A5E2"><enum>101.</enum><header>Office of Special Counsel for Competition Matters</header> <subsection id="H85ADAB9480014B6189ECE52CD700552C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header> <paragraph id="HF46BB0E4488C4F569636A29C809F7582"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established within the Department an office to be known as the <quote>Office of Special Counsel for Competition Matters</quote>.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9B8EBC53CFF44E04B2A44D38E09D2D10"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The Office shall—</text> <subparagraph id="H98975425A0B24816A5031E7CAFB77BFC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>investigate and prosecute violations of this Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBD4E1BB5EC0444A3B213E100A63D3535"><enum>(B)</enum><text>serve as a liaison between, and act in consultation with, the Department and the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade practices in the food and agricultural sector; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC597789AD5BB46318C55B9BC36FB1BE8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with the appropriate expertise.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD7D02F6CAA044AB49725C31699BBFE28"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Special Counsel for Competition Matters</header> <paragraph id="H2AAC4BF57EB449BFA7DEFCDD411188CF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Office shall be headed by the Special Counsel for Competition Matters, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF7B825CB2C6949EEBF89473D9DEFF785"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prosecutorial Authority</header><text>Notwithstanding title 28, United States Code, the Special Counsel for Competition Matters shall have the authority to bring any civil or administrative action authorized under this Act or the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/181">7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.</external-xref>).</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Prohibitions on any unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice in agricultural commerce</header> <section id="HFCC7FEAA671F46ACAE93EA3F85163E4F"><enum>201.</enum><header>Prohibitions involving crops</header> <subsection id="H913E659B2D464F7293058598B7966FFB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prohibition on any unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice</header><text>Any unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice in or affecting the marketing, receiving, purchasing, sale, or contracting for the production of any agricultural commodity by any covered person shall be unlawful.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H5630A8D4F1254DDEB2211B257F1F86CE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Other unlawful acts</header><text>It shall be unlawful for any covered person—</text> <paragraph id="HC9B48B10396540BFB1C4321ED1AA9954"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to make or give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any particular person or locality in any respect, or subject any particular person or locality to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage in any respect;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H98D57CA79837420E8053FC4E5EB8EA77"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to sell or otherwise transfer to or for any other person, or buy or otherwise receive from or for any other person, any article for the purpose or with the effect of manipulating or controlling prices, or of creating a monopoly in the acquisition of, buying, selling, or dealing in, any article, or of restraining commerce;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HA26B56927C75492A89ABC9A67D7CD6FF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to engage in any course of business or do any act for the purpose or with the effect or manipulating or controlling prices, or of creating a monopoly in the acquisition of, buying, selling, or dealing in, any article, or of restraining commerce;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H075AE61437304465ADA6FF6B81B21278"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to conspire, combine, agree, or arrange with any other person—</text> <subparagraph id="HE7FAA43C5E404237A30024A6F7143727"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to apportion territory for carrying on business;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H52ACC2AEA6304CEE9714057FEBBEA213"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to apportion purchases or sales of any article; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H284411F23680438BA4E4C2CA394F06CD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to manipulate or control prices; or</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H027DFDBE11A048D7AF00F22CEF074121"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to conspire, combine, agree, or arrange with any other person to do, or aid or abet the doing of, any act made unlawful by paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2896E940F6734F4B87D05EDC61D3EF1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Public policy considerations</header><text>In determining whether an act, device, or anti-competitive practice described in subsection (a) is unfair, a court may consider whether—</text> <paragraph id="H50736D99598442E69B502D6414EE1C00"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a reasonable person would consider the act, device, or practice unfair under the circumstances, whether or not the act, device, or practice has previously been found unlawful; or</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB84392990CD54ABD9E8E00121C2D58EF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the act, device, or practice may violate standards established by Federal or State law (including common law and regulations).</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF406B2ACC2C14F8DAE4BF5BAAD005D2C"><enum>202.</enum><header>Prohibitions involving producer associations and production contracts</header> <subsection id="H3E1596ECCD9447F69C76709B9234EADC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Any unlawful act involving producer associations and production contracts</header><text>It shall be unlawful for any covered person—</text> <paragraph id="H9FC25B2025D24BC8B0E98E80240216FF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to interfere with, restrain, or coerce any producer in the exercise of the right of the producer to join and belong to, or to refrain from joining or belonging to, an association of producers;</text> </paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7FE066EBF0684FD9B1D2D6835986E363"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to refuse to deal with any producer because of the exercise of the right of the producer to join and belong to the association;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H2F6B7D0F7DBE40D197E51247DDE04853"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to discriminate against any producer with respect to price, quantity, quality, or other terms of purchase, acquisition, or other handling of an agricultural commodity because of the membership of the producer in, or the contract of the producer with, an association of producers;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB3B717F707E14C2D8B21B57596A07AE"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to coerce or intimidate any producer to enter into, maintain, breach, cancel, or terminate a membership agreement or marketing contract with an association of producers or a contract with a covered person;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H7A2D021673274C01933499EF008C72CF"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to pay or loan money, give any thing of value, or offer any other inducement or reward to a producer for refusing to or ceasing to belong to an association of producers;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H3B4615D7DA8647F7000257017EE5078E"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to make false reports about the finances, management, or activities of an association of producers or covered persons;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HFC47165CB5064C939E5CB8D1C4ED8D83"><enum>(7)</enum><text>to conspire, combine, agree, or arrange with any other person to do, or aid or abet the performance of, any act made unlawful by this Act;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HEE231E54DA764A30A67019008C2E05F5"><enum>(8)</enum><text>to interfere with the formation or administration of any association of producers;</text> </paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5CCF26D8D7764B51A56F6E9BB5F521B9"><enum>(9)</enum><text>to contribute financial or other support to an association of producers; or</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H5994782EC6C04BA6973284A231E59935"><enum>(10)</enum><text>to fail to bargain in good faith with an association of producers.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE6ED408342564B918C695EEA8F9F6F1F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Any unlawful act in production contracts</header><text>It shall be unlawful for a covered person that is a party to a production contract—</text> <paragraph id="H6BE89D60B73B4E5183DF85028D17AFE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to fail to act in good faith with respect to the performance and enforcement of the production contract;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9D02571927464DBB84CA3460A9D3AC52"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to fail to include 1 or more cover pages that disclose provisions of the production contract relating to—</text> <subparagraph id="HB698C32CE474448E8039078E5D82D5BA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>duration;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H106292BEEFC64E129DFB9B8496DB67B2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>termination;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0D3B20CBEF1C441093C9AC1FF6D84C00"><enum>(C)</enum><text>renewal and renegotiation standards;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H353F42FEE9EA494D9F25C19EB49EC197"><enum>(D)</enum><text>responsibility for environmental damage;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H73E9EB5EE2DC4B9FB5E4D3BC9519E95"><enum>(E)</enum><text>factors to be used in determining payment;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H95C5AB7AC4E043FBBE6C88AFFE329F4C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>responsibility for obtaining and complying with Federal, State, and local permits;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDB78DA5137864EC690927340CF895120"><enum>(G)</enum><text>assignability;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H65571621A2EA4BC7A42020802E39273B"><enum>(H)</enum><text>the applicable State law and venue;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H953CCB22F54E4468843BF10007877D65"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the effect of oral modifications;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H752463924DC542A48707466FFE329C81"><enum>(J)</enum><text>remedies for breach;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0EC430EE0F604D01AA38EDC04994D444"><enum>(K)</enum><text>in the case of a livestock or poultry production contract, the minimum number of animals subject to the contract;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H539806945B8142CFAFE735DB688434B"><enum>(L)</enum><text>other rules or provisions incorporated in the contract by reference; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H62647825D9C64FDEA63862CBF37FA7EC"><enum>(M)</enum><text>any other terms that the Secretary determines to be appropriate for disclosure; or</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H99DB8D9FE26E49E28DF3566C83996D3E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to violate any of the requirements relating to production contracts under section 204.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE728430CCCA1400EB100911F3DB2158D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Public policy considerations</header><text>In determining whether an act, device, or anti-competitive practice described in section 201(a), with respect to the production of an agricultural commodity, is unfair, a court may consider whether—</text> <paragraph id="H0CBA4DEEC10C4547BD3DEB2EFD4CB7CA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a reasonable person would consider the act, device, or practice unfair under the circumstances, whether or not the act, device, or practice has previously been found unlawful; or</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE8A498E9558D4CA3BCFDF69BB84B739B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the act, device, or practice may violate standards established by Federal or State law (including common law and regulations).</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF47DBB45102245B9A99E9E71525B5233"><enum>203.</enum><header>Production contracts and marketing contracts</header> <subsection id="HBA56E3EEA340486D9364361000A98315"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header><text>Any provision of a production contract or a marketing contract that requires that the production contract or marketing contract remain confidential is void, except as the provision applies to a trade secret to which section 552 of title 5, United States Code, applies.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HC478392035F042C5A300325867717082"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Arbitration</header><text>If a livestock or poultry contract or marketing contract provides for the use of arbitration to resolve a controversy under the livestock or poultry contract or marketing contract, arbitration may be used to settle the controversy only if, after the controversy arises, both parties consent in writing to use arbitration to settle the controversy.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HA7B15359DEC44F33942DF598655800F3"><enum>204.</enum><header>Production contracts</header> <subsection id="HF6B7C179DD7D4253944BECCCE83E19BE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Right of contract producers To cancel production contracts</header> <paragraph id="H57494C4DB68F4E98AC70502CD38DD81C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A contract producer may cancel a production contract by mailing a cancellation notice to the contractor not later than the later of—</text> <subparagraph id="H7FE47CD28E71430CA51F1C9EE205CC98"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date that is 3 business days after the date on which the production contract is executed; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD3F7366CA69246A4A200059FC3E6E700"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any cancellation date specified in the production contract.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDD830F32D1874D35A05C00151FA0B456"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Disclosure</header><text>A production contract shall clearly disclose—</text> <subparagraph id="H0452D24BF85F4B93AB21E4B19F282ECF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the right of the contract producer to cancel the production contract;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE3284791D9FB403380120009B010B7C1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the method by which the contract producer may cancel the production contract; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H058E0D15EF8C4C17A924881F3ED61283"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the deadline for canceling the production contract.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1B667B5C9F614D46A66F24395D6BE721"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Production contracts involving investment requirements</header> <paragraph id="HB8AF3DBFBF4E450FA083F0ED505F87BB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>This subsection applies only to a production contract between a contract producer and a contractor if, but for the production contract, the contract producer would not have made a capital investment of $100,000 or more.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H0C1D3895F1544C6F9F7F67C0C8E71705"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Restrictions on contract termination</header> <subparagraph id="H57BBA595FC8641E686666344D666652E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Notice of termination</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (C), a contractor shall not terminate or cancel a production contract unless the contractor provides the contract producer with written notice of the intention of the contractor to terminate or cancel the production contract at least 180 days before the effective date of the termination or cancellation.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H00B2A39BC1E944E58E411D3100F30422"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The written notice required under subparagraph (A) shall include alleged causes of the termination.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF84BFDA182244290B49FC9D2CCEB5C06"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>A contractor may terminate or cancel a production contract without notice as required under subparagraph (A) if the basis for the termination or cancellation is—</text> <clause id="H82A74A2BE19B42C489126D9410C600E4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a voluntary abandonment of the contractual relationship by the contract producer, such as a complete failure of the contract producer to perform under the production contract;</text> </clause><clause id="H4498D68A415049ABB918F50215698DE0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the conviction of the contract producer of an offense of fraud or theft committed against the contractor; or</text> </clause><clause id="H36A2FDBD1E8C46EA934028AB5BB31D0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the natural end of the production contract in accordance with the terms of the production contract.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0F09CE0C4E83466EA56DB1D623010000"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Right to cure</header> <clause id="H31BBACEFCC5B49E39D25A66D13C98D25"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If, not later than 180 days after the date on which the contract producer receives written notice under subparagraph (A), the contract producer remedies each cause of the breach of contract alleged in the written notice, the contractor may not terminate or cancel a production contract under this paragraph.</text> </clause><clause id="HF2CAEF90BCD043D281DA46623EB39D86"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>No admission of breach</header><text>The remedy or attempt to remedy the causes for the breach of contract by the contract producer under clause (i) does not constitute an admission of breach of contract.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE1801EDAC9A34B9EB2B3A556198C021B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Additional capital investments in production contracts</header> <paragraph id="H7673549B6F4C4CA49CCD5549B87EB423"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A covered person shall not require a contract producer to make additional capital investments in connection with a production contract that exceed the initial investment requirements of the production contract.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H6214DC560FDA44358DB6FFB2D76B9B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a covered person may require additional capital investments if—</text> <subparagraph id="HD732484A39264B78A08F87DFC21E5214"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the additional capital investments are offset by reasonable additional consideration, including compensation or a modification to the terms of the production contract; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA2BA60EBE1D14537847E48C7426C6F79"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the contract producer agrees in writing that there is acceptable and satisfactory consideration for the additional capital investment.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H19C2EB98985145639E907D9E446F63C"><enum>205.</enum><header>Authority of Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary, acting through the Special Counsel for Competition Matters, may promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), including rules and regulations—</text> <paragraph id="H408CBD8864D74CC8AB30A728B63D4474"><enum>(1)</enum><text>relating to unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive acts, devices, or anti-competitive practices in agriculture;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB51B7D714EF1410D9FE0D4423C1B8EFE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that define with specificity any act, device, or practice that is to be prohibited as unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or any deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice in agriculture under section 201 or 202; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H86900005A5AF49758997946C20006801"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to prevent any unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice from occurring in agriculture.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="HE058C5CAD81B4159B0803000AF373C92"><enum>206.</enum><header>Enforcement</header> <subsection id="HFDB36F73122C418781060091C8C08008"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Civil actions by the Secretary against covered persons</header><text>In any case in which the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe that any covered person has engaged in any act or practice that violates this Act, the Secretary may bring a civil action in the United States district court of the jurisdiction of residence of the covered person by filing a complaint requesting preventive relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, against the covered person.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H9DD64646767E40FBA0B8742C10EB9578"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Civil actions against covered persons</header> <paragraph id="HD992ACF0E31648EF9FCBF28FACDA1D3D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Preventive relief</header> <subparagraph id="H9DE16FCF2F3C4855AB3772ED13FB3347"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In any case in which any covered person has engaged, or there are reasonable grounds to believe that any covered person is about to engage, in any act or practice prohibited by this Act, a civil action for preventive relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, may be instituted by the person aggrieved in the United States district court of the jurisdiction of residence of the aggrieved person.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H70A363FD1824470F894F5D12F2F6961B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Security</header><text>The court may provide that no restraining order or preliminary injunction shall issue unless security is provided by the applicant, in such sum as the court determines to be appropriate, for the payment of such costs and damages as may be incurred or suffered by any party that is found to have been wrongfully enjoined or restrained.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1EBA0E9CAF5343F2BCAADE99D4D25505"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Damages</header> <subparagraph id="H0E38BB0C80794FDD920001517EE0DF97"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Any person injured in the business or property of the person by reason of any violation of, or combination or conspiracy to violate, this Act may bring a civil action in the United States district court of the jurisdiction of residence of the injured person or any State court of competent jurisdiction to recover—</text> <clause id="H90B4E233EBCC429D96D57CF75F9E2156"><enum>(i)</enum><text>damages sustained by the person as a result of the violation; and</text> </clause><clause id="HAA882C6B195D47C9958B9392FB6FEF68"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any additional penalty that the court may allow, but not more than $1,000 per violation.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0AB2DBCB3883412BA7E149104639ECCE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation on actions</header><text>A civil action under subparagraph (A) shall be barred unless commenced within 4 years after the cause of action accrues.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB791B8DF45D9410A98E2EE39635610AC"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Attorneys' fees</header><text>In any action commenced under paragraph (1) or (2), the court may allow the prevailing party the costs of the litigation, including reasonable attorneys' fees.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE65B53749CF948BEB0A52A1893D5B98"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Jurisdiction of district courts</header><text>Not later than 4 years after the date on which a violation of this Act occurs, an action to enforce this Act may be brought in—</text> <paragraph id="H2F85BC679B794B9DB73D23D1BD269CB8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the United States district court of the jurisdiction of residence of the aggrieved person, notwithstanding the fact that an aggrieved person has not exhausted all administrative or other remedies provided by law; or</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H24B04CF1AD414D4F8B15CBAF469BE89"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any other court of competent jurisdiction in the State of residence of the aggrieved person.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6EAABD76B9524FD2A18C09AAA0195D57"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Choice of law, jurisdiction, and venue</header> <paragraph id="HBC885AA59E7149E797004EA3633E1782"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Choice of law</header><text>Any provision in a production contract requiring the application of the law of a State other than the State in which the producer resides is void and unenforceable.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD6ED86EF3BA24C70B0709E00DB2C69DC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Jurisdiction</header><text>A covered person that enters into a production contract with a producer shall be subject to personal jurisdiction in the State in which the producer resides.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H2373F8AC530D4E3D9938B98BBC6BD1FE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Venue</header><text>Venue shall be determined on the basis of the residence of the producer.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H03212A9BB6324103BD0074C53E7E5E12"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Liability for acts of agents</header><text>In the construction and enforcement of this Act, the act, omission, or failure of any officer, agent, or person acting for or employed by any other person within the scope of the employment or office of the officer, agent, or person, shall be considered to be the act, omission, or failure of the other person.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H3796654D618B4A0BAF8B663E77C29975"><enum>207.</enum><header>Effect on other laws</header> <subsection id="H8DFF41F5E6A34BD7BB49693CDC8CB685"><enum>(a)</enum><header>State laws</header> <paragraph id="H0B9F952C25BD455D8798B665833F9016"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), this Act does not annul, alter, or affect, or exempt any person subject to this Act from complying with, the law of any State with respect to trade practices in agriculture.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H3531D6FE95D7497B99C5091C91D4E272"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header> <subparagraph id="H6681D5E136BD4461951D009505B11B14"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>This Act annuls, alters, or affects, or exempts a person from, a State law referred to in paragraph (1) to the extent the State law is inconsistent with this Act.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H812F60A111274E1290C9E15F8CFB9FDD"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inconsistency</header><text>For the purposes of this paragraph, a State law is not inconsistent with this Act if the protection that the law affords any producer is greater than the protection provided to a producer by this Act.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEA23C15C136D4AF284F3A0619C29C7AC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>State courts</header><text>This Act does not deprive a State court of jurisdiction under a State law dealing with the same subject as this Act.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H03ED3AB046D0453D82AD531B4B8C5439"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Relationship to other laws</header><text>The Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (7 U.S.C. 499a et seq.) shall control if there is a conflict between those Acts and section 206.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H4ED7756F2EE34541A6769193C3E433B"><enum>208.</enum><header>Assignment of association dues and fees</header> <subsection id="H8FDBA703DA4E4250968389BFA8AFF79B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A producer of an agricultural commodity or service may execute, as a clause in a production contract or a marketing contract, an assignment of dues or fees to, or the deduction of a sum to be retained by, an association of producers authorized by contract to represent the producer, under which assignment a covered person shall—</text> <paragraph id="H5572E1D03E9A4942B6BB53AC33057DE0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>deduct a portion of the amount to be paid for products or services of the producer under a production contract or a marketing contract; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H14324E463F614FFFB4D4BC176953CF8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>pay, on behalf of the producer, the portion over to the association as dues or fees or a sum to be retained by the association.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2006424DEFFC4F44A9114EFF1CAEFF3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duty of covered person</header><text>After a covered person receives notice from a producer of an assignment under subsection (a), the covered person shall—</text> <paragraph id="H22B992E1F25A4B8AAF42170008B631D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>deduct the amount authorized by the assignment from the amount paid for any agricultural commodity sold by the producer or for any service rendered under any production contract or marketing contract; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H7B4CB9C7E2114C2C9CA0F3FE6E20425B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>on payment to producers for the product or service, pay the amount over to the association or the assignee of the association.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HB7D643E195304E99878841CD10BB8E52"><enum>209.</enum><header>Severability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">If any provision of this Act or application of any provision of this Act is held invalid, the remainder of this Act and the application of the provision to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected by the invalidity.</text> </section>

102.

Application

The amendment made by section 101 applies to any contract entered into on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

<enum>II</enum><header>Packers and stockyards</header> <section id="HB47947BA34C943BF8500A74DE96FF67"><enum>201.</enum><header>Investigation of live poultry dealers</header> <subsection id="H4EB4CADC27FE4E1F9516DC9C354FDC29"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Removal of poultry slaughter requirement from definitions</header><text>Section 2(a) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/182">7 U.S.C. 182(a)</external-xref>), is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HCAA68514027045E2930977ADF3593FC5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HD9EB7AB9BDD745208378CF785C5B7B38" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H7C69BAB67EBE467092B11BB0BB194C5E"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Poultry grower</header> <subparagraph id="H4D491CCA09024B0085FF57226BF1F173"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>poultry grower</term> means any person engaged in the business of raising or caring for live poultry under a poultry growing arrangement, regardless of whether the poultry is owned by the person or by another person.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H84D64483AD694576A9D1E273B3DDA619"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>The term <term>poultry grower</term> does not include an employee of the owner of live poultry described in subparagraph (A).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="H42080D4BFDC84B658E3500F88E8CBDE4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (9), by striking <quote>and cares for live poultry for delivery, in accord with another’s instructions, for slaughter</quote> and inserting <quote>or cares for live poultry in accordance with the instructions of another person</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H92A10DE522E94A679C45141561CBDAA9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (10), by striking <quote>for the purpose of either slaughtering it or selling it for slaughter by another</quote>.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H324E99BC6006493DAF3D2DED773C4D55"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administrative enforcement authority over live poultry dealers</header><text>Sections 203, 204, and 205 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/193">7 U.S.C. 193</external-xref>, 194, 195), are amended by striking <quote>packer or swine contractor</quote> and inserting <quote>packer, live poultry dealer, or swine contractor</quote> each place it appears.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HFA1978EF2C00415C9706F9D65622D298"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authority To request temporary injunction or restraining order</header><text>Section 408 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/228a">7 U.S.C. 228a</external-xref>), is amended in the first sentence by striking <quote>on account of poultry</quote> and inserting <quote>on account of poultry or poultry care</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H55AADE2AA37147A6AD6D1BA4C216409D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Violations by live poultry dealers</header> <paragraph id="HD214B2B19C5E4FF08236B32726FD7DEF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Penalty</header><text>Section 203(b) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/193">7 U.S.C. 193(b)</external-xref>) is amended in the third sentence by striking <quote>$10,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$22,000</quote>.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H7E8B1D8A5BAF4E1C97893289855E55E4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Repeals</header><text>Sections 411, 412, and 413 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/228b-2">7 U.S.C. 228b–2</external-xref>, 228b–3, 228b–4)), are repealed.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H60395FF6E0B74D6BA9156FB9FF01FE00"><enum>202.</enum><header>No competitive injury requirement</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 202 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/192">7 U.S.C. 192</external-xref>), is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HE2064C92D6D647E687E8D52070691CB"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), by inserting after <quote>device</quote> the following: <quote>, regardless of whether the practice or device causes a competitive injury or otherwise adversely affects competition and regardless of any alleged business justification for the practice or device</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB657127EFFC74A3489D5861048C52CF9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (e), by inserting after <quote>commerce</quote> the following: <quote>, regardless of whether the course of business or act causes a competitive injury or otherwise adversely affects competition and regardless of any alleged business justification for the course of business or act</quote>.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="H46E22D27BF974F349630324457C7422D"><enum>203.</enum><header>Attorneys' fees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 308(a) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/209">7 U.S.C. 209(a)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: <quote>and for the costs of the litigation, including reasonable attorneys' fees</quote>.</text> </section><section id="H467A42F10E2041269E51002C617380A6"><enum>204.</enum><header>Appointment of outside counsel</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 407(a) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/228">7 U.S.C. 228(a)</external-xref>), is amended by inserting <quote>obtain the services of attorneys who are not employees of the Federal Government,</quote> before <quote>and make such expenditures</quote>.</text> </section><section id="HFCA295A50F624E56BC00898CD74143DC"><enum>205.</enum><header>Regulations</header> <subsection id="HFAD3D6577CA043578FCDDCC860996F1D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate regulations to implement the amendments made by this Act, including providing a definition of the term <term>unreasonable preference or advantage</term> for purposes of section 202(b) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/192">7 U.S.C. 192(b)</external-xref>).</text> </subsection><subsection id="HF53C6A1C346041BDB38580D6A102A69F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall strictly prohibit any preferences or price differences based on volume except for preferences or price differences that reflect actual, verifiable lower costs of acquiring livestock from larger volume producers.</text> </subsection></section>