Dakin Dairy LLC

Debarment was proposed because of unpaid assessments to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and a civil penalty. On August 11, 2020, Channing Strother, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), ordered DAKIN DAIRY FARMS to pay $219,893.42 in assessments and late-payment charges for unpaid assessments to AMS and a civil penalty of $5,000 to the Treasurer of the United States. In March 2024, AMS requested information from the Dairy Board and its designated agent in Florida, Florida Dairy Farmers (FDF), regarding whether the Respondents had complied with the August 2020 ALJ Decision and brought its operations into compliance with the Dairy Stabilization Act and the Dairy Promotion Order by timely paying assessments and reporting required information to the Dairy Board. On March 21, 2024, the Dairy Board stated that the last payment of assessments they received from the Respondents was on April 25, 2018, and the last payment of late charges they received was on August 23, 2018. Additionally, on March 27, 2024, FDF provided a history of payments which detailed that they last received a payment from the Respondents in May 2017. On June 8, 2026, the AMS Transportation and Marketing Program’s Grants Division (GD), notified AMS’ Compliance, Audit, Risk and Safety Division (CARS) of a senatorial constituent services referral. GD related that Dakin Dairy, LLC was selected for a Dairy Business Innovation-funded subaward by the University of Tennessee; however, award execution has been delayed due to conflicting SAM.gov records involving an active exclusion. The constituent is arguing that the exclusion applies to a different individual/entity (Jerry Dakin Dairy) and not to DAKIN DAIRY LLC, which was acquired by new ownership (the current owners of DAKIN DAIRY LLC purchased the business and/or its assets from Jerry Dakin, which is a family member with a history of wrongdoing). On June 24, 2026, the AMS Dairy Program informed CARS that DAKIN DAIRY LLC, at the Betts Road address, is not in good standing with the Dairy Board or the requirements of the Act and Order to report and remit the assessment. They have not paid assessments in 2025 or 2026 under the new ownership. For further information contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agency Exclusions POC.