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Company Directory - Dairy Farmers of America

Company Details - Dairy Farmers of America

Dairy Farmers of America

Website

Kansas City, United States

Dairy Farmers of America is a national cooperative of dairy farmers that markets milk and dairy products across the United States. As a member‐owned organization, it supports its farmers through various services including dairy processing, marketing, and supply chain management, ensuring high-quality dairy products reach consumers nationwide.

CCI Score

CCI Score: Dairy Farmers of America

-41.60

0.02%

Latest Event

Dismissal of Antitrust Suit Highlights Unchallenged Business Practices

A federal judge dismissed an antitrust suit accusing Dairy Farmers of America of coercing farmers into membership and enforcing exclusive supply contracts. Although the suit was dismissed, the allegations raise concerns regarding potential exploitation and unfair labor practices within the cooperative.

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TOADIE

Dairy Farmers of America is currently rated as a Toadie.

-30 to -44 CCI Score
Companies scoring in this range actively seek to please authoritarian regimes. They offer proactive support and assistance in exchange for preferential treatment, compromising ethical standards for business gains and political favor.

Latest Events

  • OCT
    05
    2023

    A federal judge dismissed an antitrust suit accusing Dairy Farmers of America of coercing farmers into membership and enforcing exclusive supply contracts. Although the suit was dismissed, the allegations raise concerns regarding potential exploitation and unfair labor practices within the cooperative.

  • -40

    Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

    March 29

    The antitrust lawsuit alleged that DFA coerced farmers to join the co-op and engaged in exclusive supply contracts, practices that could undermine small farmers' rights and fair labor practices. Even though the lawsuit was dismissed, these allegations suggest a pattern of behavior that may harm marginalized producers and entrench power imbalances.

    Antitrust Suit Against Dairy Farmers of America Dismissed

  • AUG
    01
    2022

    A class action lawsuit filed by Northeastern dairy farmers accuses Dairy Farmers of America of using its market power to force a monopsony, suppressing milk prices and harming the interests of its cooperative members. The allegations claim that DFA prioritized its processor holdings over the financial interests of the farmers, leading to claims of unfair market practices and consolidation pressure on other cooperatives.

  • -60

    Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

    March 29

    The lawsuit alleges that DFA exploited its market power to favor its processor holdings over its cooperative members, effectively suppressing milk prices. This conduct undermines ethical business practices and the cooperative principles of fair treatment of members. Such behavior contributes to an environment of concentrated economic power and potential exploitation, which is contrary to progressive, anti-authoritarian values.

    Dairy Farmers of America faces class action lawsuit

  • JUL
    29
    2022

    A federal lawsuit filed on July 29, 2022, accuses Dairy Farmers of America of engaging in anticompetitive behavior by executing multiple mergers and acquisitions that allegedly have created a monopsony in the Northeast dairy market. The suit claims these actions harm independent dairy farmers by eliminating competition and forcing them into a consolidated market environment.

  • -40

    Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

    March 29

    The lawsuit alleges that Dairy Farmers of America engaged in questionable business practices by orchestrating mergers and acquisitions to create a market structure that benefits its processing operations at the expense of independent, member-owned farms. This behavior undermines fair competition and raises ethical concerns regarding the treatment of small-scale producers.

    Lawsuit accuses Dairy Farmers of America of creating ‘monopsony’ in the Northeast

  • -30

    Economic and Structural Influence

    March 29

    The consolidation described in the lawsuit, with DFA controlling up to 60% of the Grade A milk market and 85% of processing capacity in parts of the Northeast, reflects a structural shift that limits market diversity and imposes significant barriers for independent dairy operations. This adverse economic influence contributes to regional market imbalances.

    Lawsuit accuses Dairy Farmers of America of creating ‘monopsony’ in the Northeast

  • JUL
    29
    2022

    A class action lawsuit filed on July 29 alleges that Dairy Farmers of America engaged in exclusionary and predatory practices in the Northeast raw milk market. The suit claims DFA forced non-member farmers into its cooperative through tactics such as withdrawing marketing and hauling services and acquiring competitors, which reinforced its monopsonistic control over the region.

  • -80

    Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

    March 29

    The lawsuit alleges that DFA employed forced membership tactics, exclusive contracts, and withdrawal of services to undercut competition, actions that compromise ethical business practices and harm independent producers. These practices are seen as predatory and exclusionary, undermining fair market competition.

    Class Action Alleges DFA Has Acted as Raw Milk Monopoly in Northeast

  • -60

    Economic and Structural Influence

    March 29

    The complaint details DFA's consolidation of market power through acquisitions and exclusive supply agreements, creating a monopsony that depresses milk prices and destabilizes the competitive landscape. This concentration of economic influence is seen as particularly harmful to independent dairy producers.

    Class Action Alleges DFA Has Acted as Raw Milk Monopoly in Northeast

  • JUL
    02
    2020

    A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York accuses 75 members of Dairy Farmers of America's leadership of engaging in extortion, using predatory pricing and cartel tactics to consolidate control over the dairy market following its acquisition of Dean Foods' assets. The suit alleges that these practices have harmed small dairy farmers and undermined market competition.

  • -80

    Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

    March 29

    The lawsuit details unethical business practices including extortion, predatory pricing, and cartel-like behavior in DFA's acquisition of Dean Foods' assets. These actions, which are alleged to exploit dairy farmers and stifle competition, represent a breach of ethical responsibility in business practices.

    Lawsuit accuses DFA leadership of 'extortion' and 'cartel' tactics after Dean Foods sale

  • -70

    Economic and Structural Influence

    March 29

    Allegations that DFA used monopolistic practices and cartel behavior to consolidate market power suggest significant economic and structural impacts. The lawsuit claims that such tactics were used to eliminate competition, which could destabilize the dairy sector and harm smaller producers.

    Lawsuit accuses DFA leadership of 'extortion' and 'cartel' tactics after Dean Foods sale

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