---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 251"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "251"
heading: "Conditions for delivery of agricultural products"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/251"
units:
  - "Chapter 10 — Warehouses"
---

# §251. Conditions for delivery of agricultural products

- (a) **Prompt delivery—** In the absence of a lawful excuse, a [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11) shall, without unnecessary delay, deliver the [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) stored or handled in the [warehouse](/usc/7/241.md?p=10) on a demand made by—
  - (1) the [holder](/usc/7/241.md?p=6) of the [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) for the [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1); or
  - (2) the [person](/usc/7/241.md?p=7) that deposited the product, if no [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) has been issued.
- (b) **Payment to accompany demand—** Prior to delivery of the [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1), payment of the accrued charges associated with the storage of the [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1), including satisfaction of the warehouseman’s lien, shall be made if requested by the [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11).
- (c) **Surrender of receipt—** When the [holder](/usc/7/241.md?p=6) of a [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) requests delivery of an [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) covered by the [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8), the [holder](/usc/7/241.md?p=6) shall surrender the [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) to the [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11), in the manner prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/7/241.md?p=9), to obtain the [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1).
- (d) **Cancellation of receipt—** A [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11) shall cancel each [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) returned to the [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11) upon the delivery of the [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) for which the [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) was issued.

## Source credit

(Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, § 12, as added Pub. L. 106–472, title II, § 201, Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2067.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 251, acts Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, § 10, 39 Stat. 487; Mar. 2, 1931, ch. 366, § 5, 46 Stat. 1464; Pub. L. 97–35, title I, § 158(a)(1), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 375, authorized fee for warehouse examination, inspection, and licensing, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 106–472. See section 243 of this title.

A prior section 12 of act Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, was classified to section 253 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 106–472.