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
- 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.
- Once you have obtained a bond, the USDA will notify MDA.
- 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

