DOJ Steps Up Agriculture Market Scrutiny Amid Rising Prices

As millions of Americans face an affordability crisis, the Justice Department is homing in on the agriculture industry, focusing on the rising costs faced by farmers and ranchers and soaring prices of key grocery staples like beef and eggs.

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation in recent months into how prices are set in cattle auctions, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The DOJ lawyers investigating National Beef Inc., Cargill Inc., Tyson Foods Inc. and JBS NV are looking to determine whether the companies reached illegal agreements over how they purchase cattle from ranchers, said some of the people, who asked not to be named discussing a confidential matter.