Class Certification Pending in Cattle Collusion Case

R-CALF, United Stock Growers of America, has reached a settlement with JBS last year, but it continues its case against the remaining three major packers alleging interference in cattle markets. Our calf USA CEO, Bill Bullard shares an update on where the case stands.

“The case is now involved virtually every segment of the new supply chain. Our case is awaiting a ruling by the court as to whether or not we will achieve class certification, meaning that we would represent all of the cattle producers who were similarly affected during the five year period from 2019 through early 2020 during which we have alleged that the meat packers have unlawfully colluded to artificially depressed cattle prices and simultaneously inflate beef prices”

If a ruling is made in their favor. Bullard explains the rest of the process.

“Will be a summary judgment phase in the case, and then ultimately the trial, which was not likely to happen in 2026 Republic still looking a couple a couple years away, but at the same time, we've got the President of the United States calling for investigation of the food supply chain, including the beef supply chain, and that means that the investigation that was first opened that was specifically directed at the beef packing industry has now been expanded with the inclusion of the Federal Trade Commission, which has jurisdiction over retail beef.”