Nebraska’s attorney general Doug Peterson has, along with nine other states and the Federal Trade Commission, filed a lawsuit against pesticide makers Syngenta and Corteva. The bi-partisan lawsuit alleges that the companies have engaged in anticompetitive practices to the detriment of farmers.
Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that Syngenta and Corteva have violated state and federal laws, including the Clayton and FTC Act. Additionally, the lawsuit accuses both companies of holding loyalty programs with pesticide distributors that are rewarded for selling Syngenta and Corteva products. This, says the lawsuit, prevents generic companies from competing in the market and allows the companies to keep their prices high.
“These unlawful business practices have cost farmers many millions of dollars a year,” the complaint alleges. The lawsuit seeks an end to these loyalty programs and demands equitable monetary relief to farmers. Nebraska is joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin.