PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission fined an out of state company for buying grain without a license.

Staff attorney Kristen Edwards told the commission that Atlantic Grain and Trade of South Carolina has been cooperative.

The company bought about sixty train carloads of what was called “bird seed material” over the last couple of years.

PUC Chairman Chris Nelson said that is not a small transaction.

Nelson says they also want to send a message to grain companies.

The Commission fined the grain company ten thousand dollars. They could have faced a maximum of twenty thousand dollars.