---
title: "Check produce payment terms against the PACA trust time limit"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/agribusiness-and-rural-law/check-that-a-horticulture-trader-has-published-its-terms-of-trade/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A38-OB20261022-10-US"
practice_area: "Agribusiness & Rural Law"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Check produce payment terms against the PACA trust time limit

> Extract the payment terms, whether they were agreed in writing before the transaction, the acceptance date, and the date payment was due. Do not calculate a trust deadline or draft the terms.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/agribusiness-and-rural-law/check-that-a-horticulture-trader-has-published-its-terms-of-trade/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Agribusiness & Rural Law](https://ailawframework.com/practice/agribusiness-and-rural-law.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | Extract the payment terms, whether they were agreed in writing before the transaction, the acceptance date, and the date payment was due. Do not calculate a trust deadline or draft the terms. |
| What the lawyer must review | The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service trust page states that payment terms other than PACA prompt payment terms, which are usually 10 days, must be agreed by the parties in writing before the transaction. To qualify for trust protection, payment terms cannot exceed 30 days from acceptance of the product. The lawyer checks the writing, the acceptance date, and the due date against those two limits. The licensing page is the companion source: buyers and sellers must meet contract specifications, pay promptly, and maintain trust assets, or face possible suspension or revocation of the license. ABA Model Rules 1.1 and 5.3 and Formal Opinion 512 leave the check with the lawyer. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Check that a horticulture trader has published its terms of trade](https://ailawframework.com/practice/agribusiness-and-rural-law/check-that-a-horticulture-trader-has-published-its-terms-of-trade.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: Extract the payment terms, whether they were agreed in writing before the transaction, the acceptance date, and the date payment was due. Do not calculate a trust deadline or draft the terms.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- The 30-day limit and the requirement of a prior writing for terms other than usual prompt payment are on the trust page. The tool does not decide that trust protection has been preserved.
- Usual prompt payment on that page is usually 10 days. The page does not set a different number for every commodity.
- These are agency explanations. The lawyer confirms the current statute and regulations before reliance.

## Sources

- [USDA AMS, PACA trust](https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/paca/paca-trust) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [USDA AMS, PACA licensing](https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/paca/licensing) (checked 2026-10-22)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*