NeFU Encourages Eligible Cattle Producers to File Claims in the $83.5 Million JBS Lawsuit

Lincoln, NE. Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) State President John Hansen is encouraging eligible cattle producers to file claims as part of the $83.5 million JBS Lawsuit before the September 15, 2025 deadline.

Hansen said, “If you sold cattle to JBS, Tyson, Cargill, or National Beef from June 1, 2015 to February 29, 2020, you really ought to click on the website below to explore the claim filing process. The filing process is very doable. In our view, the more claims filed, the better it is for individual beef producers who did not get paid a fair and competitive price for their beef, and for the future competitiveness of the beef industry as a whole. This settlement is a tool beef producers can use to help themselves while also helping put more competition into beef markets.  We hope beef producers take advantage of this hard-fought opportunity to help themselves.”

The class action lawsuit, filed in 2019 by National Farmers Union, R-CALF USA, and four individual ranchers, alleged anticompetitive conduct by JBS, Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef. On February 20, 2025, the Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation received preliminary approval of an $83.5 million settlement with JBS.

The deadline to submit a claim is September 15, 2025. Eligible cattle feeders and futures traders may now submit claims through the settlement website, www.CattleAntitrustSettlement.com, where more information is available. 

Who is eligible?  “All persons and entities who or which: (i) within the United States, directly sold to a Defendant one or more fed cattle for slaughter from June 1, 2015 to February 29, 2020 other than pursuant to a Cost-Plus Agreement and/or a Profit Sharing Agreement (the “Producer Class”); and/or (ii) held a long position in Live Cattle Futures traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange prior to June 1, 2015, and subsequently liquidated the long position through an offsetting market transaction at any point prior to November 1, 2016 (the “Exchange Class”).

Nebraska Farmers Union is a general farm organization with 3,532 farm and ranch family members dedicated to protecting and enhancing the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers, and their rural communities.  Since 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union has helped organize over 445 cooperatives, champion valued-added agriculture, create new markets, and fight for agricultural markets that are more accessible, competitive, fair, and transparent.