MIDDLEBURY — The Vermont Agency of Agriculture lifted the suspension on Bernard and Louis Quesnel’s livestock dealer license as of Jan. 4.
As reported in the Dec. 24 edition of the Independent, the brothers, who operate Quesnel Livestock out of farm off Route 7 North in Middlebury, had their dealer license suspended on Dec. 16 following an investigation into the sale of horses within the state without proper testing for Equine Infectious Anemia.
Following a conference on Dec. 21, the Quesnels, State Veterinarian Kristin Haas and the lawyers of each party came to an agreement, and the state reinstated the livestock license, according to Agency of Agriculture records.
The Quesnels signed an Assurance of Discontinuance letter, which acknowledged their legal violations and attested that they had stopped trading untested horses. The Quesnels agreed to make improvements in their record keeping, and the state assessed a penalty of $7,260, with $4,000 of it to be paid in monthly installments starting immediately. If, after two years, Quesnel Livestock has not been found to violate any terms of the agreement, the remaining balance will be discharged.
As of Jan. 4, the brothers were once again allowed to trade livestock other than horses, according to the Assurance of Discontinuance letter. They are forbidden from buying, selling, trading or transporting horses for two years from that date, the letter states.