Across the United States, courts are receiving claims filed against the four largest U.S. meatpacking companies. Complaints have come from cattle producers, retailers and fast-food chains alleging Cargill, JBS S.A., Marfrig Global Foods (National Beef) and Tyson Foods have participated in price fixing.

While some law firms are likely trying to make a case for a class-action lawsuit, Progressive Farmer/DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton indicates a ‘wait-and-see’ approach could be the way to go. That’s for a few reasons. First, producers who have sold cattle or traded live cattle futures on the CME since 2015 have already been included in the plaintiffs. Next, class-action lawsuits take a long time — especially one as complicated as this could be. Lastly, some of the firms involved in soliciting clients for the potential case have a history of high fees that could impact what producers actually see when the dust settles.

Read more about the lawsuits here.