MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont lawmakers will be getting an update from the attorney general's office on the status of a proposed $50 million settlement that the cooperative Dairy Farmers of America has agreed to pay thousands of Northeast farmers to settle antitrust allegations.
A judge is expected to decide soon whether to approve the settlement and farmers now have until May to submit a claim.
The class-action lawsuit charged the cooperative, its marketing arm, Dairy Marketing Services, and Dallas-based Dean Foods with working together to monopolize the market for raw milk in the Northeast, driving down prices paid to dairy farmers.
DFA has not admitted any wrongdoing.
A representative from the attorney general's office will discuss the status of the settlement with the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday.