skip to content
photo of computer keyboard, pen and a electronic tablet

Find a license in the A-Z Index

1. Refine the topic list by letter

 

2. Select a topic to view their list of licenses

Title: Livestock Meat Packing Company / Meat Packing Agent License
Alternate Title:
Description: Any person, including packing companies, that engage in the business of buying or selling livestock on a regular basis for the person's own account or for the account of others. Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
Subject: Animals
Food
Livestock
Meat Packing
Creation Date: 9/11/2008 2:14:35 PM
Modification Date: 2/3/2025 10:08:08 AM
Agency Name: Agriculture (MDA), Minnesota Department of
Agency URL: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/
Agency Description: The mission of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is to enhance all Minnesotans’ quality of life by equitably ensuring the integrity of our food supply, the health of our environment, and the strength and resilience of our agricultural economy.
Agency Phone: 651-201-6000
800-967-2474
Agency Fax: Agency URL: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/
Agency Address:
625 N. Robert Street

St. Paul
MN
55155
Unit Name: Dairy & Meat Inspection
Unit URL:
Unit Description:
Unit Phone: Unit Fax: Contact person(s): Grace.Martin@state.mn.us
Unit URL:
Audience: Hold Application URL: https://www2.mda.state.mn.us/webapp/erenewal/apply.jsp
Renewal URL: https://www2.mda.state.mn.us/webapp/erenewal/apply.jsp
Versa URL:
Requirements:

Review:

Livestock Dealer Licensing

How to Get a Livestock Dealer or Market Agency License

Who must be licensed?

Anyone, including meat packing companies, who engages in the business of buying or selling livestock on a regular basis. Livestock includes:

  • Cattle
  • Sheep
  • Swine
  • Horses intended for slaughter
  • Mules
  • Farmed cervidae (deer & elk)
  • Llamas
  • Ratitae (ostriches & emus)
  • Bison
  • Goats

You do not need a license if you:

  • are primarily a meat retailer,
  • operate a frozen food processing plant, or
  • raise livestock, and the animals you buy are for herd replacement and you sell only livestock you bred and/or raised yourself.

Anyone who buys and sells livestock for their own business or on the behalf of others must be registered and bonded by the USDA and licensed by the MDA.


Rules: 1515.0100 - .2400

Statutes: 17A.04

Forms:

Apply for a license

  1. First, contact the USDA Packers and Stockyards Administration office in Des Moines, Iowa at 515-323-2579. They will send you the paperwork you need to become registered and bonded.
  2. Once you have obtained a bond, the USDA will notify MDA.
  3. Once MDA has heard from the USDA, we’ll send you the forms to apply for the appropriate license. You can also download the application form from this page or complete it online.
    However, the MDA cannot issue your license until the Packers and Stockyards registration/bonding is complete.

License fees

  • $300 for each livestock market agency and public stockyard
  • $100 for each livestock dealer
  • $100 for each meat packing company
  • $50 for each agent of a livestock dealer or meat packing company

It usually takes about two weeks for us to issue a license once we receive all the paperwork, so please plan ahead. If you have questions about the requirements or licensing process, please contact us.

Renewing a license

Each year MDA will mail out a renewal notice with a new PIN. Contact us MDA if you don't know your current PIN.

Update agents associated with a license


Fees:

Each meat packing company - $100  

Each agent  meat packing company - $50


Period of Issuance:

July 1 - June 30


Length of Determination: Approximately two weeks.
Other Info:
Activity: Livestock
Meat Packing
Food
License Detail URL:

Livestock Dealer Licensing

Licenses & Inspections Locator

Licensing Information Search

Online Licensing System -License Lookup

Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)


back to top