United States Department 

--

of Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

Office of Field 

Operations 

Des Moines District 

Office 

Neal Smith Federal 

Building 

210 Walnut Street 

Room 985 

Des Moines, IA 

50309-2123 

Voice 515.727.8960 

Fax 515.727.8991 

December 19, 2023 

Electronically mailed on December 19, 2023 

Russ Heinrichs, Establishment Manager 

Farmers Union Industries, LLC, Est. M21898 

P.O. Box 77 

Estherville, Iowa 51334 

rheinrichs@redwoodfarmsmp.com 

712-362-2225 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

Attention: Russ Heinrichs 

This letter serves as official notification by the Food Safety and Inspection Service 

(FSIS) of our decision to place the Notice of Suspension (NOS), initiated on 

December 18, 2023, at Farmers Union Industries, LLC., Establishment M21898, 

located at 2421 9th Avenue South, Estherville, Iowa 51334

(b) (6)

, into abeyance (NOSA). 

This letter follows verbal notification, provided by , Frontline 

Supervisor, to Mr. Russ Heinrichs, Establishment Manager, on December 19, 2023. 

From December 18-19, 2023, you provided FSIS, via emails, written corrective 

actions and preventive measures, in response to the regulatory noncompliance 

detailed in the NOS. The response outlined actions adequate to address the 

noncompliance regarding humane handling of livestock requirements, including a 

plan to maintain compliance with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) Title 21 

of the United States Code (21 U.S.C. 603), the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 

1978 (HMSA) (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq), and federal regulations {Title 9 of the Code 

of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) Part 313}. The following documents were 

included, detailing actions immediately implemented and further proposed at 

your establishment: 

Specifically: 

• NOS Response Letter, dated December 18, 2023 (1 page) 

• Attachment A: picture of misfire squib 

• Review Discussion Form (2 pages) 

• Animal Euthanization Log (1 page) 

• Blank Ammunition Use record (1 page) 

• Training Article: Humane Handling- Consciousness and 

Stunning (19 pages) 

• Employee Meeting Attendance retraining (1 page) 

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer 
Russ Heinrichs, Establishment Manager Notice ofSuspension Held in Abeyance 

Faimers Union Industries, LLC. Est. M21898 December 19, 2023 

Based on your written response, you were info1med verbally, that the suspension of the 

assignment of IPP, for slaughter operations, at your establishment is held in abeyance 

effective at 0943 hours on December 19, 2023. 

The suspension will remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS personnel that your 

proposed co1Tective actions and preventive measures have been effectively implemented and 

are adequate to maintain compliance. Establishment personnel should monitor operations to 

prevent violations of humane handling and slaughter from reoccuITing. It is also important 

for you to understand the responsibility of FSIS to initiate action when there is a failure to 

operate in accordance with 9 CFR Part 313 of the regulations. 

During the abeyance period verification activities will be conducted by IPP and results will 

be rep01ted to the Des Moines District Office on a weekly basis. The decision to hold the 

suspension action in abeyance is based on the proffered actions. Any modifications to your 

submitted co1Tective actions and preventive measures made during the abeyance period need 

to be submitted, in writing, to the Des Moines District Office for review prior to 

implementation by your establishment. 

Please be advised that, as a federally inspected establishment, you are expected to comply 

with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate co1Tective action to prevent inhumane 

handling of livestock at your establishment. Your failure to comply with these requirements 

or to implement the measures in your action plan could result in reinstatement of the 

suspension of inspection at your establishment or other appropriate administrative or legal 

action. 

Sincerely, 

Digitally signed by DAWN

DAWN SPROULS SPROULS 

Date: 2023.12.19 12:42:12 -06'00' 

Dawn Sprouls, DVM 

District Manager 

USDA FSIS OFO 

Des Moines District Office 

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