Published
August 23, 2025
Updated
August 1, 2026
The $34.4 million Dairy Farmers of America and Select Milk settlement paid approved Southwestern dairy-farmer claims. The administrator confirms distribution checks were mailed to addresses on file as of June 2, 2026.
Current Status
The claim deadline passed on October 13, 2025, and the settlements are no longer awaiting approval or claim review. The official site confirms that all settlement distribution awards were mailed by check to the address on file as of June 2, 2026. No new claim process is open. A claimant who did not receive an expected check should use the current administrator instructions on the official site rather than submit a new form to OpenClassActions.StatusDistribution Checks Mailed
Mailing DateJune 2, 2026
Combined Funds$34.4 Million
Claim DeadlineOctober 13, 2025 — Passed
What Was the Southwestern Dairy Lawsuit About?
Dairy farmers alleged that Dairy Farmers of America, Select Milk Producers, and Greater Southwest Agency combined or conspired to restrain trade, suppress competition, and reduce the prices paid for raw Grade A milk in DFA's Southwest Area. The claims were brought under federal antitrust law. DFA and Select denied wrongdoing, and the court did not decide that the allegations were true. The agreements resolved the claims against the settling defendants and included both monetary and non-monetary terms.Who Was Included?
The settlement class covered dairy farmers, whether individuals or business entities, who produced Grade A milk and sold it independently, directly, or through an agent to DFA or Select within DFA's Southwest Area from January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2025. The official region map and notice controlled the geographic boundary. Producing milk somewhere in the broader Southwest was not enough if the qualifying sale and region requirements were not met.How Was the $34.4 Million Fund Built?
Dairy Farmers of America agreed to pay $24.5 million and Select Milk Producers agreed to pay $9.9 million, for a combined gross fund of $34.4 million. The agreements also described non-monetary relief. Court-approved fees, expenses, service awards, notice, and administration costs were deducted as authorized before the net fund was distributed. The gross total therefore was not divided equally by the number of farms.How Were Individual Awards Calculated?
Approved claims received pro rata shares based on verified qualifying milk production during the class period. A farm associated with more eligible pounds of Grade A milk generally represented a larger portion of the allocation than a farm with fewer eligible pounds. The administrator had to validate sales and production records across claimants before calculating final awards. No universal per-farm dollar amount was promised.What Proof Was Used?
The claim process asked farms to confirm class membership and qualifying milk sales and to supply or correct purchase and production information when needed. Records could include milk statements, transaction histories, cooperative records, or similar business documents showing volume and sales to the settling defendants. Those materials supported the allocation; they were not a retail receipt requirement. The filing period closed in October 2025.What Does the June 2026 Update Mean?
The official homepage now states that all settlement distribution awards were mailed via check to addresses on file as of June 2, 2026. That is a direct distribution confirmation, so the case has moved beyond “payments pending.” It does not mean every envelope was delivered or every check was deposited. Address problems, returned mail, stale checks, or a disagreement about a claim require administrator review under the settlement's procedures.What Should a Former Claimant Do?
Keep the submitted claim, milk-production records, and any award notice. If an expected check did not arrive, use the verification instructions on the official SW Dairy litigation site. Do not post farm banking information or taxpayer records publicly, and do not pay a third party to “release” a check. OpenClassActions did not administer these awards.Why the Prior Page Was Out of Date
The older article correctly described a proposed settlement, October claim deadline, and November 2025 fairness hearing. Those procedural milestones have now been overtaken by approval and distribution. Recycling the eligibility, allegations, fund breakdown, and calculation details remains useful, but the action language must be historical because the checks were already mailed and there is no new filing opportunity.Official Information
Review the latest information on the official Southwestern dairy litigation site website.
Case
Othart Dairy Farms, LLC v. Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
Case Number
2:22-cv-00251-SMD-DLM
Court
U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
Class Period
January 1, 2015–June 30, 2025
DFA Settlement
$24.5 million
Select Settlement
$9.9 million
Distribution
Checks mailed June 2, 2026
Official Website
official Southwestern dairy litigation site
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