An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

USDA

United StatesDepartment of Agriculture

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service

Office of Field

Operations

July 28, 2023 CERTIFIED MAIL

Atlanta District Office

100 Alabama St., SW. 

Suite 3R90

Atlanta, GA. 30303

Phone: 404-562-5900

Fax: 404-562-5877

Toll Free:

800-282-7005

Circle F Farms Meat Processing

Mll55

324Azalea Road

Baxley, GA 31513 

@woodyfolsom.com

(912) 218-0042

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE

Dear Mr. Woody Folsom:

On July 25, 2023, the Food Safety, and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a 

Notice of Suspension (NOS) withholding the marks of inspection and 

suspending the assignment of slaughter inspection program personnel for 

livestock slaughter at Circle F Farms Meat Processing, Est. M1155 located at

324 Azalea Road, Baxley, GA 31513. This action was based on your 

establishment's failure to handle livestock humanely according to 9 CFR Part 

313.

On July 25, 2023, you submitted written corrective actions and preventive 

measures to meet the requirements of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. 

Based on your assessment, you determined that: the cow had to be shot four

(4) times. Your corrective actions and preventive measures included: 

retraining employees about shot placement using pictures in the 9 CFR 316 as 

a guide; you will assess the animal size and caliber of firearm used to make 

sure you have appropriate size firearm; and based on your SSOP you regularly 

use a .22 magnum and have a 9mm as back-up.

On July 25, 2023, FSIS determined that the proffered corrective actions and 

preventive measures submitted were not adequate to properly address the 

inhumane handling incident and clarification was requested. Specifically, 

FSIS requested: clarification regarding why the cow had to be shot (stunned) 

four (4) times; provide a copy of the material used to retrain your employees in 

proper shot placement; provide a copy of the record used to document 

retraining of establishment employees in proper shot placement; describe 

specific monitoring activities planned to ensure future compliance; provide a 

copy of the record that would be u5ed to document monitoring activitie5;

(b) (6)
An Equal Opportunity Provider andEmployer

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE

Mr. Woody Folsom, Owner

Circle F Farms Meat Processing, Est. Ml 155

July 28, 2023

Page 2

clarify what measures/method will be used to "assess" the animal in the chute when 

determining which firearm to use when stunning the animal; explain why the

establishment employee did not follow the SSOP regarding the use of a .22 magnum 

firearm and a 9mm back-up; clarify if the establishment will have a secondary (back-up) 

stunning device available, for immediate access, on the kill floor; and clarify the 

establishments immediate planned corrective actions following an ineffective stun.

On July 26, 2023, you submitted your second response to provide clarification to your 

proffered corrective actions. Your response included: an explanation of the cow being 

shot four (4) times; you provided a copy of the material used to retrain your employees in 

proper shot placement; a record documenting proper shot placement training had 

occurred was provided but it did not include the names, or signatures of the employees 

retrained; stunning effectiveness would be monitored and documented on every fifth

animal slaughtered; cows with a live weight of 1,000lbs. or more will be stunned with a 

firearm larger than a .22 magnum rifle; the supervisor will make sure the stunning SSOP 

will be followed; a 9mm handgun will be readily available on the kill floor when animals 

are stunned; and in the event of an ineffective stun a security shot will be taken in a 

timely manner.

On July 26, 2023, FSIS determined that your second response of proffered corrective 

actions and preventive measures submitted was not adequate to properly address the 

inhumane handling incident and further clarification was requested. Specifically, FSIS 

requested; clarification regarding why the cow had to be shot (stunned) four (4) times; 

provide a copy of the record used to document retraining of establishment employees in 

proper shot placement to include the employees' names and signatures or initials; provide 

a monitoring frequency of stunning effectiveness that reflects your low volume of 

slaughter; and to clarify your terminology when referring to a re-stun vs. a security stun.

On July 26, 2023, you submitted your third response to provide clarification to your 

proffered corrective actions. Your response included: improper shot placement required 

the cow to be shot four (4) times; you provided record documenting employee retraining 

for proper shot placement which included employees names and signatures; you will 

monitor and document stunning effectiveness on 100% of the animals slaughtered during 

the abeyance period; and clarified that in the event of ineffective stun, establishment 

personnel will take immediate corrective action and effectively re-stun the animal.

On July 27, 2023, you were verbally notified by FSIS that the corrective actions and 

preventive measures met the requirements to place Circle F Farms Meat Processing, Est. 

Ml 155, in Abeyance and that a Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance (NOSHA) and 

Verification Plan (VP) would be issued. You are hereby being provided written 

notification of the Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance.
An Equal Opportunity Provider andEmployer

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE

Mr. Woody Folsom, Owner

Circle F Farms Meat Processing, Est. Ml 155 

July 28, 2023

Page 3

Please be further advised that the suspension of inspection at your establishment will 

remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS that your proposed corrective actions 

and preventive measures have been implemented and are effective in ensuring future 

regulatory compliance and preventing the inhumane treatment of animals. Agency 

personnel will begin immediate verification of your corrective actions and preventive 

measures. ·

A copy of the FSIS Verification Plan is attached to assist you in understanding the nature 

and importance of the agency's verification activities. The FSIS Verification Plan is 

designed to verify that your establishment fully implements the revisions to its humane 

handling of animals and other corrective actions stated in your responses, and that these

revisions and corrective actions are effective in ensuring future regulatory compliance. 

The FSrs Verification PIan identifies your proposed corrective actions, the regulatory

requirement(s), and the PHIS Task under which FSIS officials will verify the 

implementation and effectiveness of your proposed action plan.

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

comply with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate actions to prevent the inhumane 

handling of animals. It is important for you to understand that FSIS has the 

responsibility to initiate action if your establishment fails to operate in accordance with 

the regulations, or conditions occur that do not comply with the Humane Methods of 

Slaughter Act. Please be advised that failure to comply with these regulatory 

requirements or failure to effectively implement your proposed corrective actions and 

preventive measures could result in the immediate suspension of inspection at your 

establishment or other appropriate action.

If you have any questions, please contact the Atlanta District Office at 404-562-5900.

Sincerely,

Digitally signed

by PHYLLIS

ADAMS

Date 2023 07 28

14 00:43 -04'00'

Dr. Phyllis Adams 

District Manager

ADAMS

PHYLLIS

pg.1

Establishment Name: Circle F Farms Meat Processing July 28, 2023 

Establishment Number: 1155M

Week ending_: _

On July 25, 2023, the Food Safety, and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a Notice of 

Suspension (NOS) withholding the marks of inspection and suspending the assignment of 

slaughter inspection program personnel for livestock slaughter at Circle F Farms Meat 

Processing, Est 1155M located at 324 Azalea Road, Baxley, GA 31513. This action was 

based on your establishment's failure to handle livestock humanely according to 9 CFR Part

313. This Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS} Verification Plan is designed to verify 

that the establishment fully implements the corrective actions and preventive measures 

proffered in response to the Notice of Suspension (NOS) issued on July 25, 2023. Inspection 

personnel and the Atlanta District Office will utilize the Verification Plan to evaluate the 

effectiveness of the corrective actions in assuring future regulatory compliance. This FSIS 

Verification Plan identifies the corrective actions, the relevant regulatory requirements, and 

the PHIS Task under which FSIS officials will verify the implementation and effectiveness of 

the proposed action plan. The verification plan has the following tasks.

Humane Handling and Slaughter Verification

"Results of Verification" should be recorded as acceptable or unacceptable. Under the 

heading "Inspection Actions", please document corrective actions taken in compliance 

with 9 CFR 313. Please explain all unacceptable findings in the "Inspection Actions" 

column.

Items to Verify Results of Verification

Acceptable (A} or 

Unacceptable (U)

Inspection Actions

List actions taken if 

Unacceptable.

Livestock Humane Handling Verification

Task

9 CFR 313

A) Verify by record review all

employees stunning cattle have 

been re-trained in the stunning