Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 5/19/15


Ten poultry growers in Kentucky are claiming that Tyson Foods has unfairly set up a system to pay them less than its competitors as part of an established tournament to set their pay for chickens, according to a report from Nexstar Broadcasting.

The lawsuit filed in Hopkins County, Ky., alleges that the Tyson contract farmers are not being treated fairly when it comes to determining the quality of the chickens potentially sold to the company. Specifically, the lawsuit contends that some farmers are being given inferior chicks with genetic defects or the feed given to poultry growers is inferior, which sets them up for lower prices at sale.

In a statement sent to Meatingplace, Tyson said, "We dispute the claims being made in this lawsuit and intend to vigorously defend our company in court. We will present our evidence in this case in court rather than in the media, but your [readers] need to know that Tyson values our relationships with farmers who raise chickens for our company. We want farmers to do well because their success directly affects ours."

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.