Tyson, hog farmers argue at Arkansas Supreme Court

Thursday, February 5th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Little Rock, Arkansas-AP) -- Lawyers for Tyson Foods told the Arkansas Supreme Court Thursday its contract with Oklahoma and Arkansas hog farmers allows for arbitration over Tyson ending its live swine business.

Hog farmers in both states are suing Arkansas-based Tyson over the company's decision to close its live swine operations.

Lawyers for the hog farmers say both sides must agree to arbitration for the proceedings to go forward. The farmers want a circuit judge to hear the case.

They say Tyson acted in bad faith because the company had farmers invest as much as $1-million in individual facilities before ending swine operations in 2002.

The court did not issue a ruling on whether to keep the case in circuit court.