Agri Stats: Difference between revisions

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====U.S. v. Agri Stats, Inc. (''September 2023—'')====

On September 28, 2023 the Department of Justice filed a complaint against Agri Stats on the basis of violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1, which states that any contract "in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1890-07-02 |title=CHAPTER 1-MONOPOLIES AND COMBINATIONS IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE |url=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-1999-title15-section1&num=0&edition=1999 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Office of the Law Revision Counsel - United States Code}}</ref>. In the filing the DOJ states that the United States brings action to "stop Agri Stats’ anticompetitive scheme and restore competition to heartland U.S. agriculture markets"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA |url=https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-10/416782.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Department of Justice}}</ref>. The complaint alleges that Agri Stats shared sensitive market information between competitors through subscription and business consultation services, which allowed processors to forecast competitors production and withhold output at beneficial times when it is was deemed profitable, potentially leading to higher than normal price increases. Additionally the DOJ ~~states~~ that Agri Stats shared sensitive wage information, farmer pay, and "other compensation metrics"<ref name=":0" />. On May 28, 2024 a Motion to Transfer and a Motion to Dismiss ~~were filed~~ with the District of Minnesota, both of which were dismissed<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/media/1359226/dl?inline |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=Department of Justice |pages=5, 14}}</ref>.

On September 28, 2023 the Department of Justice filed a complaint against Agri Stats on the basis of violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1, which states that any contract "in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1890-07-02 |title=CHAPTER 1-MONOPOLIES AND COMBINATIONS IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE |url=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-1999-title15-section1&num=0&edition=1999 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Office of the Law Revision Counsel - United States Code}}</ref>. In the filing the DOJ states that the United States brings action to "stop Agri Stats’ anticompetitive scheme and restore competition to heartland U.S. agriculture markets"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA |url=https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-10/416782.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Department of Justice}}</ref>. The complaint alleges that Agri Stats shared sensitive market information between competitors through subscription and business consultation services, which allowed processors to forecast competitors production and withhold output at beneficial times when it is was deemed profitable, potentially leading to higher than normal price increases. Additionally the DOJ alleges that Agri Stats shared sensitive wage information, farmer pay, and "other compensation metrics"<ref name=":1" />. On May 28, 2024 Agri Stats filed a Motion to Transfer and a Motion to Dismiss with the District of Minnesota, both of which were dismissed<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/media/1359226/dl?inline |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=Department of Justice |pages=5, 14}}</ref>.

On Monday May 4, 2026, U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche lead a news conference where White House adviser Peter Navarro expressed that the "U.S. Department of Justice plans to settle its case against data company Agri Stats with an agreement officials hope will help drive down food ‌costs"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Godoy |first=Jody |date=2026-05-04 |title=DOJ plans to settle Agri Stats case, White House official says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/doj-taking-aim-food-prices-acting-ag-says-2026-05-04/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |work=Reuters}}</ref>.

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Agri Stats published a [https://www.agristats.com/doj-lawsuit-against-agri-stats-is-wrong-on-the-law-and-bad-for-consumers/ news article] on September 28, 2023 in response to the DOJ accusations, where they discuss the claim that their business practices assist producers in reducing production cost.

=== In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation ===

===In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation===

A class action lawsuit was brought against defendants including but not limited to Agri Stats alleging that the defedants and co-conspirators "conspired to fix, raise, maintain, and stabilize the price of Broilers, beginning at least as early as January 1, 2008"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-05 |title=Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation |url=https://www.broilerchickenantitrustlitigation.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER |url=https://www.broilerchickenantitrustlitigation.com/docs/CertifiedClass/5644-Class%20Certification.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation}}</ref>. On April 14, 2026 a Chicago federal judge granted injunctive-relief settlement with Agri Stats, which procedurally progresses plaintiffs closer to the $203.5 million "consumer settlement fund that has been sitting in administrative limbo since... July 31, 2025"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Steve |date=2026-04-21 |title=Chicken Price-Fixing Settlement Update -- Agri Stats Preliminary Approval Clears Final Hurdle Before $203.35M Consumer Payout |url=https://openclassactions.com/news/chicken-price-fixing-settlement-agri-stats-preliminary-approval-april-2026.php |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Open Class Actions}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-21 |title=$203.35M Chicken Price Fixing Class Action Settlement — 2026 {{!}} Closed |url=https://openclassactions.com/settlement_chicken.php |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Open Class Actions}}</ref>.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 ====U.S. v. Agri Stats, Inc. (''September 2023—'')====
-On September 28, 2023 the Department of Justice filed a complaint against Agri Stats on the basis of violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1, which states that any contract "in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1890-07-02 |title=CHAPTER 1-MONOPOLIES AND COMBINATIONS IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE |url=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-1999-title15-section1&num=0&edition=1999 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Office of the Law Revision Counsel - United States Code}}</ref>. In the filing the DOJ states that the United States brings action to "stop Agri Stats’ anticompetitive scheme and restore competition to heartland U.S. agriculture markets"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA |url=https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-10/416782.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Department of Justice}}</ref>. The complaint alleges that Agri Stats shared sensitive market information between competitors through subscription and business consultation services, which allowed processors to forecast competitors production and withhold output at beneficial times when it is was deemed profitable, potentially leading to higher than normal price increases. Additionally the DOJ states that Agri Stats shared sensitive wage information, farmer pay, and "other compensation metrics"<ref name=":0" />. On May 28, 2024 a Motion to Transfer and a Motion to Dismiss were filed with the District of Minnesota, both of which were dismissed<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/media/1359226/dl?inline |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=Department of Justice |pages=5, 14}}</ref>.
+On September 28, 2023 the Department of Justice filed a complaint against Agri Stats on the basis of violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1, which states that any contract "in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1890-07-02 |title=CHAPTER 1-MONOPOLIES AND COMBINATIONS IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE |url=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-1999-title15-section1&num=0&edition=1999 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Office of the Law Revision Counsel - United States Code}}</ref>. In the filing the DOJ states that the United States brings action to "stop Agri Stats’ anticompetitive scheme and restore competition to heartland U.S. agriculture markets"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA |url=https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-10/416782.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Department of Justice}}</ref>. The complaint alleges that Agri Stats shared sensitive market information between competitors through subscription and business consultation services, which allowed processors to forecast competitors production and withhold output at beneficial times when it is was deemed profitable, potentially leading to higher than normal price increases. Additionally the DOJ alleges that Agri Stats shared sensitive wage information, farmer pay, and "other compensation metrics"<ref name=":1" />. On May 28, 2024 Agri Stats filed a Motion to Transfer and a Motion to Dismiss with the District of Minnesota, both of which were dismissed<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/media/1359226/dl?inline |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=Department of Justice |pages=5, 14}}</ref>.
 On Monday May 4, 2026, U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche lead a news conference where White House adviser Peter Navarro expressed that the "U.S. Department of Justice plans to settle its case against data company Agri Stats with an agreement officials hope will help drive down food ‌costs"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Godoy |first=Jody |date=2026-05-04 |title=DOJ plans to settle Agri Stats case, White House official says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/doj-taking-aim-food-prices-acting-ag-says-2026-05-04/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |work=Reuters}}</ref>.
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 Agri Stats published a [https://www.agristats.com/doj-lawsuit-against-agri-stats-is-wrong-on-the-law-and-bad-for-consumers/ news article] on September 28, 2023 in response to the DOJ accusations, where they discuss the claim that their business practices assist producers in reducing production cost.
-=== In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation ===
+===In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation===
 A class action lawsuit was brought against defendants including but not limited to Agri Stats alleging that the defedants and co-conspirators "conspired to fix, raise, maintain, and stabilize the price of Broilers, beginning at least as early as January 1, 2008"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-05 |title=Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation |url=https://www.broilerchickenantitrustlitigation.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER |url=https://www.broilerchickenantitrustlitigation.com/docs/CertifiedClass/5644-Class%20Certification.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation}}</ref>. On April 14, 2026 a Chicago federal judge granted injunctive-relief settlement with Agri Stats, which procedurally progresses plaintiffs closer to the $203.5 million "consumer settlement fund that has been sitting in administrative limbo since... July 31, 2025"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Steve |date=2026-04-21 |title=Chicken Price-Fixing Settlement Update -- Agri Stats Preliminary Approval Clears Final Hurdle Before $203.35M Consumer Payout |url=https://openclassactions.com/news/chicken-price-fixing-settlement-agri-stats-preliminary-approval-april-2026.php |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Open Class Actions}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-21 |title=$203.35M Chicken Price Fixing Class Action Settlement — 2026 {{!}} Closed |url=https://openclassactions.com/settlement_chicken.php |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Open Class Actions}}</ref>.