---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 201"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "201"
heading: "“Stockyard owner”; “stockyard services”; “market agency”; “dealer”; defined"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/201"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Packers and Stockyards"
  - "Subchapter III — Stockyards and Stockyard Dealers"
---

# §201. “Stockyard owner”; “stockyard services”; “market agency”; “dealer”; defined


In this chapter:

- (a) The term “stockyard owner” means any [person](/usc/7/182.md?p=1) engaged in the business of conducting or operating a [stockyard](/usc/7/202.md?p=a).
- (b) The term “stockyard services” means services or facilities furnished at a [stockyard](/usc/7/202.md?p=a) 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](/usc/7/182.md?p=11), of [livestock](/usc/7/182.md?p=4).
- (c) The term “market agency” means any [person](/usc/7/182.md?p=1) engaged in the business of (1) buying or selling in [commerce](/usc/7/182.md?p=11) [livestock](/usc/7/182.md?p=4) on a commission basis or (2) furnishing [stockyard services](#b). Beginning on October 7, 2016, such term includes any [person](/usc/7/182.md?p=1) who engages in the business of buying or selling [livestock](/usc/7/182.md?p=4), 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](/usc/7/182.md?p=1)’s annual average of online, video, or electronic sales of [livestock](/usc/7/182.md?p=4), on a commission or other fee basis, exceeds $250,000.
- (d) The term “dealer” means any [person](/usc/7/182.md?p=1), not a [market agency](#c), engaged in the business of buying or selling in [commerce](/usc/7/182.md?p=11) [livestock](/usc/7/182.md?p=4), either on his own account or as the employee or agent of the vendor or purchaser.

## Source credit

(Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 64, title III, § 301, 42 Stat. 163; Pub. L. 85–909, § 2(1), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1750; Pub. L. 94–410, § 3(c), Sept. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 1249; Pub. L. 114–237, § 2, Oct. 7, 2016, 130 Stat. 970.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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

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

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

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–237, § 2(a), substituted period for “; and” after “stockyard services” and inserted at end “Beginning on October 7, 2016, 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.”

1976—Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 94–410 substituted “livestock” for “live stock”.

1958—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 85–909 struck out “at a stockyard” after “livestock”.