First-Time Customers - A 50% non-refundable deposit is due within 7 days of completing your booking.

Returning Customers - A 30% non-refundable deposit is due within 7 days of completing your booking.

Every Booking requires a deposit.

Deposits must be paid within 7 days of completing your booking. 

A $35 late fee will apply to payments received after this period. 

Please note that repeated late deposits may impact the scheduling of slaughter and processing services, including requiring full payment at the time of booking or canceled bookings.

No birds may be dropped off without a paid deposit.

Standard Availability - 31 days or more in advance with a completed deposit, regardless of the 7-day window. 

(If booked at 31 days and the deposit is not paid for Rush Availability Fees will be applied)

Rush Availability 30 or fewer days before booking +$100

Threshold minimums per Cut and Poultry Type

Chicken

• 20 - Spatchcocked,
• 20 - Bird-Halves,
• 50 - 4-Joint Cuts (Airline Breasts)
• 50 - 6-Joint Cuts
• 50 - 7-Joint Cuts (Tenderloins)
• 50 - 8-Joint Cuts
• 50 - 9-Joint Cuts (Tenderloins)

Duck

• 50 - Bird-Halves,
• 50 - 6-Joint Cuts

Turkey

• 1 - Bird-Halves,
• 1 - 6-Joint Cuts
• 1 - 8-Joint Cuts

Changes in cuts within 31 days of booking +$1.50 per bird not cut from the original booking.

Turkeys are $1.50 per lb., with an additional $15 charge for each bird over 26 lbs. dressed weight.

$20 minimum per Turkey. 

Turkey Weight is Dressed Weight and includes cavity-packed Giblets.

The invoice will be updated after packaging and before pickup.

You are still charged for the slaughter cost of your bird even though you will not receive a final product from DOA or condemned birds.

DOA – Dead on Arrival

Non-Conforming or Rework Fee

For each bird in your flock requiring rework as identified by the USDA inspector to meet USDA standards of wholesomeness, to cover the additional labor there will be a charge of $1 per bird as well as the cut charge if a bird must then be cut instead of packaged whole.

Alternatively Non-Conforming or Rework Fee regardless of flock size.

• if 20% to 50% of your flock requires rework, the fee will be $200,
• at 50% to 80%, the fee will be $400,
• at 80% or more, the fee will be $600.

Extreme Cases of Non-Conforming or Rework may see higher Charges depending on the scope of work to make birds wholesome and the time the production line is slowed by.

In addition to the Non-Conforming or Rework Fee, any charges assessed by SPPS from the USDA for Inspector overtime will be passed on to you. This covers work that extends beyond normal operating hours for your slaughter and processing. 

(The USDA Current Overtime Rate is $82.50/Hour, This May change without notice.)

Poultry will be packed in Wax Alternative Boxes. We no longer accept coolers or outside boxes. 

Any bounced or canceled checks will have a $50 charge and any bank related fees/costs added to invoices.

Checks that our bank applies an extended hold to process will not be accepted as a form of payment in the future.

Poultry packed exceeding 50lbs per crate will require additional separation for handling and to ensure animal welfare.

If the crate weighs more than 50 lbs. or the birds are overcrowded because of size we will separate them into additional crates as necessary and add a $10 rental fee per additional crate to the pickup invoice as well as $1 per pound over 50 lbs.

SPPS is the only Certified Humane USDA Inspected Poultry Slaughter Facility in New England.

Inquire on how to certify your flock with claims on your label. (more information on our website)

*We Suggest if you're unsure of weight air on the side of caution and limit to 6 birds per crate.

A late drop-off fee will be applied to any flock delivered after 7 a.m.

The fee will be $3 per bird, or a minimum of $250, plus any overtime charges from the USDA for that day's slaughter.

A flock is "Dropped Off" once crates are unloaded and the receiving paperwork is completed.

SPPS Staff are not responsible for unloading crates; paperwork will begin once you unload your flock in the designated area.

If our preferred method of palletizing crates is used, a tractor-forklift operator will be available to unload your pallets, and if you are outside the facility by 6:30 am no late fee will be applied.

If your crates are not palleted and you are not on site before we start unloading a palleted customer, the Late drop-off Fee terms apply to you regardless of your wait time to enter the unloading queue.

Pick-up windows are precise please be on time or staff will not be available to release your product to you past the pickup window.

Pickup: Based on your Intake form, at 5 pm Sharp.

If we are notified, and you provide an ETA we can accommodate, an additional charge of $60 per 15 min past 5 pm will apply. Charges apply starting at 5:01, 5:16, etc.

If you’re not at the Facility by 5 pm and we haven’t heard from you, we will close the facility and an additional charge of $50 per case per day for cold product storage will apply. 

​

All poultry must be picked up and transported in a manner that maintains a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, no exceptions.

This applies regardless of the distance being traveled. 

Proper cold chain compliance ensures food safety and prevents spoilage and is regulated by the USDA.

If your flock is 6% or more short of what you booked then we will charge you for up to 6% less of your booking number regardless of the birds brought to slaughter.

These terms of service ("Terms") outline the agreement between Steadfast Farms Poultry Processing & Slaughter LLC (hereinafter referred to as "SPPS") and [Customer Name] (hereinafter referred to as the "Customer") regarding the commitment to the volume of chickens brought to slaughter for the purpose of availing volume discounts. Please note: Customers under the Seasonal Volume Contract are also subject to the Retail Terms and Conditions, which include detailed booking processes requiring a signature. Relevant fees, such as the Rework Fee, apply unless explicitly superseded by terms within this contract. Customers under the Seasonal Volume Contract are subject to SPPS Retail Terms and Conditions, except where this contract specifies otherwise. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this contract and the Retail Terms and Conditions, the provisions of this Seasonal Volume Contract will take precedence.

2.1  Volume Tier Structure 

The Seasonal Volume Commitment shall be structured in tiers, each tier corresponding to a specific quantity of chickens to be brought to slaughter within a specified time frame. These discounts are cumulative and apply on top of the variable costs based on Booking Volume rates.

2.2 Seasonal Volume Commitment Savings 

• 1,000 – 2,000 ​​Save an additional $0.25 per bird
• 2,001 – 5,000 ​Save an additional $0.50 per bird 
• 5,001+ ​ ​Save an additional $1.25 per bird 

2.3 No Bag Fees for Retail Packages

The agreement will be effective from the signing of this form and will continue for the duration of the 2025 season unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions outlined in these terms. 

3.1 2025 Season Definition 

The 2025 season is defined as your first slaughter booking under contract for 2025 through December 31st, 2025.

 4.1 Volume Commitment 

The Customer agrees to commit to the volume of chickens specified in the chosen tier within the agreed-upon time frame of the 2025 season, Booked through our intake form. 

4.2 All Dates for the entire season required before first booking of the season. These Dates and bird amounts will be put into the system as a Future Tentative Held Date. 

4.3 Cut Sheets must be entered through the Intake System 31 days before booking. If this deadline is missed, SPPS will choose the cut sheets for that booking, and a $100 Administration Fee will be applied. This deadline is essential to maintain operational efficiency and proper planning for your flock and is non-negotiable. 

• If you later provide a different cut sheet after the 31-day window, SPPS may adjust the cut sheet if feasible. However, another $100 Administration Fee will apply. 

Please be aware that any unforeseen circumstances on your end, such as supply chain delays, weather events, labor shortages, equipment malfunctions, or flock health concerns do not waive this deadline. These are part of the normal responsibilities of farming and are accounted for under Mortality Section 6. of this contract.

5.1 Retail Per-Booking Deposit 

A retail deposit is required for each booking throughout the season. First-time customers must provide a 50% non-refundable deposit within 7 days of receiving their invoice. Returning customers must provide a 30% non-refundable deposit within 7 days. This deposit secures the individual booking date and is applied to the balance due at pickup for that booking. 

5.2 Seasonal Commitment Deposit 

At the time of contract signing, customers must provide a Seasonal Commitment Deposit in addition to the retail deposit for the first booking. This deposit is calculated as the difference in cost between the discounted tier rate and retail pricing for the customer’s maximum seasonal commitment. 

Purpose: The Seasonal Commitment Deposit ensures that the customer meets their total volume commitment for the season while benefiting from the tiered pricing discounts.

Calculation Example: For Tier 1 (1,000 – 2,000 birds), with a maximum seasonal commitment of 2,000 birds, the deposit is calculated as follows:   

• 2,000 birds x $0.25 (Tier 1 savings) = $500 Seasonal Commitment Deposit.

5.3 Application of the Seasonal Commitment Deposit 

The Seasonal Commitment Deposit will be held until the final booking of the season. It will be applied only if the total number of birds processed for the season meets or exceeds the customer’s Seasonal Volume Commitment. This deposit is applied as a credit to the final booking’s balance.

• If Commitment is Met or Exceeded: The deposit is credited toward the balance due for the final booking. 
• If Commitment is Not Met: The deposit is forfeited and retained by SPPS to cover the discounted pricing provided throughout the season.

5.4 Non-Refundable and Non-Transferable 

The Seasonal Commitment Deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable under any circumstances, including changes to bookings, flock size adjustments, or cancellations. This ensures that customers are fully committed to their seasonal volume and that SPPS can maintain operational efficiency and pricing integrity.

5.5 Balance Due

The balance for each booking is due in full prior to product release at pickup. Any adjustments to the total cost, such as additional services or changes in the number of birds processed, will be reflected in the final invoice. Customers must settle the balance at the time of pickup to ensure the timely release of their product. Failure to pay the balance at pickup will result in delays, additional storage fees, and potential cancellation of future bookings.

6.1 Seasonal Mortality Allowance

Recognizing the inherent variability in farming, customers under the Seasonal Volume Contract are afforded flexibility regarding flock mortality. A single booking may fall below the 6% mortality threshold without penalty, provided the shortfall is made up across other bookings within the same season. 

This rate was derived from the national average over the last 5 years. 

Example: If the customer books 300 chickens for a slaughter date, the flock size flexibility allows for up to a 6% reduction (282 birds). If fewer than 282 birds are brought for that booking, the customer will not be penalized, provided the overall seasonal volume commitment is met by year-end. 6.2 Commitment Requirement To maintain eligibility for the Seasonal Volume Discount: 

• The total number of birds processed by the end of the season must meet or exceed the customer’s volume commitment for their tier. 
• If the total seasonal volume commitment is not met, the customer forfeits their Seasonal Commitment Deposit. 

6.3 Daily Booking Volume Adjustments 

While the Seasonal Mortality Allowance provides flexibility for one booking, daily booking volume pricing adjustments still apply: 

• Example: If a customer books 350 birds but brings only 300, their pricing will reflect the appropriate daily volume tier pricing changes with your adjusted seasonal volume discount still applied.

6.4 Increased Season Volume Credit 

In the event of a substantial increase in the Seasonal Volume Commitment, leading to qualification for the next Tier level, the Customer is eligible for credit. This credit will account for the additional savings that would have been realized if the new higher Tier discount had been applied from the beginning of the season. The credited amount will be distributed evenly across subsequent bookings in 2026 in the form of credit off invoices. 

6.4.1 Credit Value 

• No cash value.
• Not transferable. 

Credit is only eligible as a form of discount on subsequent years’ bookings if the new higher Tier level reached is committed to for the following season or equivalent if terms and offers change in 2026.

Scheduling priority will be based on your Seasonal Volume Commitment tier and daily booking volume. SPPS will make every effort to accommodate changes to dates, provided that doing so does not impact customers in higher commitment tiers or with larger daily volumes.

• Early notification of requested changes will take precedence over late changes or lack of communication, as outlined in Section 4.
• While SPPS strives to meet customer needs, we encourage proactive scheduling to ensure optimal alignment with processing capacity and priority tiers.

8.1 Termination for Convenience 

Either party may terminate this agreement with a written notice period of 31 days. All deposits are non-refundable and will be forfeited to cover the discounted volume and the calendar space held to date.

8.2 Termination for Breach 

If the Customer fails to meet their Volume Commitment, 4. Customer Obligations or 6. Mortality during the contract term then The Customer forfeits their deposit and will be billed for any charges bringing the account to full settlement at Retail Pricing for previously assessed discounts. SPPS will subsequently terminate this agreement.