Applied Economics Teaching Resources

an AAEA Journal

Agricultural and Applied Economics Association

Case Study

Market Power in the U.S. Peanut Industry

Yuliya V. Bolotova(a)
(a)Iowa State University

JEL Codes: L1, L2, L4, Q13
Keywords: Farm support programs, oligopsony, oversupply, peanuts, price-fixing

Publish Date: December 12, 2023
Volume 5, Issue 4

View Full Article (PDF) | Request Teaching Notes/Supplemental Materials

Abstract

This case study is motivated by recent developments in the U.S. peanut industry involving allegations of an illegal exercise of buyer market power by the three largest peanut buyers (peanut shellers) in the country. They purchased raw peanuts directly from peanut growers. Peanut growers filed a class action antitrust lawsuit alleging that these buyers engaged in a price-fixing conspiracy aiming to suppress and stabilize prices of peanuts paid to peanut growers beginning in 2014. The case study introduces economic, business, and legal issues related to the alleged peanut price-fixing cartel. The case study presents economic models that help explain conduct and performance of the peanut industry in the analyzed setting, and it includes basic market and price analysis. The intended audiences are undergraduate and graduate students, as well as extension and outreach communities. A teaching note summarizes student learning objectives, teaching strategies, and student background knowledge. The teaching note also includes multiple-choice questions, as well as suggested answers and guidance to analytical, discussion, and multiple-choice questions.

About the Author: Yuliya V. Bolotova is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University (Corresponding Email: (yuliya@iastate.edu). Acknowledgments: The author acknowledges constructive comments provided by the AETR Editor, Jason Bergtold, and two anonymous reviewers.

Copyright is governed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA

References

Adjemian, M.K., B.W. Brorsen, W. Hahn, T.L. Saitone, and R.J. Sexton. 2016. Thinning Markets in U.S. Agriculture: What Are the Implications for Producers and Processors? Washington DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Economic Information Bulletin Number 148.

Adjemian, M.K., T.L. Saitone, and R.J. Sexton. 2016. “A Framework to Analyze the Performance of Thinly Traded Agricultural Commodity Markets.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 98:581–596.

Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. 2022. “Peanuts.” https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/nuts/peanut-profile

American Peanut Council. 2022. “Peanut Shelling.” https://peanutsusa.com/about-peanuts/the-peanut-industry3/13- shelling-grading.html

Besanko, D., and R. Braeutigam. 2002. Microeconomics: An Integrated Approach. Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Besanko, D., D. Dranove, M. Shanley, and S. Schaefer. 2006. Economics of Strategy, 4th ed. Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Bloch, S. 2020. “Peanut Farmers Advance in Price-Fixing Lawsuit Against Big Shell.” The Counter, December. https://thecounter.org/price-fixing-peanut-farmers-lawsuit-georgia-antitrust-adm/

Bolotova, Y. 2019. “Teaching Competition Topics: Applications of Seller Market Power in Agricultural Industries.” Applied Economics Teaching Resources 1:43–63.

Bolotova, Y. 2022. “Teaching Forward Contracts in Undergraduate Courses in Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics Programs.” Applied Economics Teaching Resources 4:22–33.

Bunge, J. 2021. “ADM to Pay $45 Million to Settle Peanut Farmers’ Price-Fixing Claims.” Wall Street Journal, March. https://www.wsj.com/articles/adm-to-pay-45-million-to-settle-peanut-farmers-price-fixing-claims-11615568604

Congressional Research Service. 2019. 2018 Farm Bill Primer: Marketing Assistance Loan Program. Washington DC.  https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11162

Dohlman, E., and J. Livezey. 2005. Peanut Backgrounder. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Electronic Outlook Report OCS-05i-01.

Dohlman, E., L. Foreman, and M. Da Pra. 2009. The Post-Buyout Experience: Peanut and Tobacco Sectors Adapt to Policy Reform. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Economic Information Bulletin Number 60.

Federal Trade Commission. 2022. Price Fixing. Washington DC. https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws/dealings-competitors/price-fixing

Hollis, P. 2014. “Peanut Futures: Know the Tools to Handle Peanut Production Risks.” Farm Progress, May. https://www.farmprogress.com/2014-peanut-futures-marketing-profitability/peanut-futures-know-tools-handle- peanut-production-risks

Hovenkamp, H. 2005. Federal Antitrust Policy: The Law of Competition and Its Practice, 3rd ed. St. Paul MN: Thomson West.

Jurenas, R. 2002. Peanut Program: Evolution from Supply Management to Market Orientation. Washington DC: Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, RL30924.

Kohls, R.L., and J.N. Uhl. 2002. Marketing of Agricultural Products, 9th ed. Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice Hall.

MacDonald, J.M., and P. Korb. 2011. Agricultural Contracting Update: Contracts in 2008. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Economic Information Bulletin EIB-72. https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=44526

Nadolnyak, D.A., C.L. Revoredo, and S.M. Fletcher. 2005. “Crop Contracts versus Spot Markets under the Marketing Assistance Loan Program: The Case of Peanuts.” Paper presented at Annual Meeting of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association, Little Rock, Arkansas, February 5–7. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/35585?ln=en

National Peanut Board. 2022. “Did You Know That There Are 4 Different Types of Peanuts?” https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/more/entertainment/peanut-types.htm

Norwood, F.B., and J.L. Lusk. 2008. Agricultural Marketing and Price Analysis. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Paul, A.B., R.G. Heifner, and J.W. Helmuth. 1976. Farmers’ Use of Forward Contracts and Futures Markets. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, National Economic Analysis Division, Agricultural Economic Report   No. 320.

Prager, D., C. Burns, S. Tulman, and J. MacDonald. 2020. Farm Use of Futures, Options, and Marketing Contracts. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Economic Information Bulletin Number 219. https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/99518/eib-219.pdf?v=8179.1

Revoredo Giha, C.L., D.A. Nadolnyak, and S.M. Fletcher. 2005. “Contract Marketing in the US after the 2002 Farm Act: The Case of Peanuts.” Paper presented at Annual Meeting of the American Agricultural Economics Association, Providence, Rhode Island, July 24–27. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/19187?ln=en

Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA. 2007. “Farmers’ Guide to Peanut Contracts.” Pittsboro NC.

Schnepf, R. 2016. U.S. Peanut Program and Issues. Washington DC: Congressional Research Service Report, R44156.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. 2019. Major Land Uses: Glossary. Washington DC. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/major-land-uses/glossary/#croplandharvested

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. 2022a. Oil Crops Data: Yearbook Tables: Peanuts. Washington DC. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/oil-crops-yearbook/

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. 2022b. Commodity Costs and Returns: Historical Costs and Returns for Peanuts. Washington DC. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/commodity-costs-and-returns/

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2016. Nonrecourse Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments. 2014 Farm Bill Fact Sheet. Washington DC.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2019. Peanut Buyers and Handlers Program Guidelines for 2019 and Subsequent Crop Years. Washington DC. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/1-ppg_r00_a04.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2020. USDA Announces Loan Rates for 2020 Crop Peanuts. Washington DC. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/news-releases/2020/usda-announces-loan-rates-for-2020-crop-peanuts

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. 2022. Peanut Reports. Washington DC.https://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/epasReports?area=home&subject=ecpa&topic=fta-pn

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2022a. Quick Stats Database. Washington DC. https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2022b. Census of Agriculture, 2017. Washington DC. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/#full_report

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2022c. Peanut Prices. Washington DC. https://usda.library.cornell.edu/concern/publications/5t34sj58c

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2022d. Peanut Stocks and Processing. Washington DC. https://usda.library.cornell.edu/concern/publications/02870v87z

Court Documents and Relevant Webpages

“In Re Peanut Farmers Antitrust Litigation” webpage. 2022. https://www.peanutfarmersantitrustlitigation.com/

“In Re Peanut Farmers Antitrust Litigation, Notice of Class Certification.” 2022. https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.PeanutFarmersAntitrustLitigation.com/docs/Peanuts+Long+Form+Notice-1-5-21_FINAL.pdf

“In Re Peanut Farmers Antitrust Litigation.” 2020. Second Amended Class Action Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial, filed   on May 27. https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.PeanutFarmersAntitrustLitigation.com/docs/2020-05-27+-+2nd+amended+complaint.pdf