Simmons Foods, Inc. Reaches Settlement Agreement with State of Oklahoma

SILOAM SPRINGS, AR (July 13, 2026) Simmons Foods, Inc. announced it has reached a settlement agreement with the State of Oklahoma, resolving claims that nutrient runoff from land-applied poultry litter in the Illinois River Watershed (IRW) caused water pollution. Under the agreement, Simmons and its co-defendants will contribute financial and operational resources to continue their long history of watershed stewardship.

"This agreement is a formal extension of the work that we've been doing for decades," said CEO Todd Simmons. "While it's unfortunate that a political campaign was the driving force behind this senseless attack on agriculture, we hope the industry will be able to move forward with a clear plan after decades of uncertainty. Most importantly, we hope farm families in the IRW can return to a sense of normalcy and the tradition of agriculture in this region can be preserved for generations to come."

If the settlement agreement is accepted by the court, Simmons and the defendants will:

• Provide $41,671,000 to the State of Oklahoma as an Environmental Relief Fund to support the Oklahoma Conservation Commission for the environmental stewardship of Oklahoma's scenic waterways.

• Pay into a Penalty Fund (Simmons' portion is $90,000).

• Remove up to 80 percent of the defendants' poultry litter from the Illinois River Watershed in Oklahoma after four years (60 percent to be removed in years 1 and 2; 70 percent in years 3 and 4; and 80 percent in years 5, 6, and 7).

• Fund an auditor to confirm defendants' compliance with their litter removal commitments (Simmons' portion is $175,000).

• Ensure all removed litter will not be applied to any other nutrient-sensitive watershed in Oklahoma.

Simmons is proud of the decades of progress made by hardworking farmers and integrators who have diligently followed state-approved nutrient management plans and exported the majority of litter out the Illinois River Watershed. For more than 20 years, the poultry industry, its growers, cities, and nonprofits have worked together to safeguard the waters of Oklahoma and Arkansas - delivering measurable improvements in water quality and reducing phosphorous levels.

We believe in our growers. We believe in rural communities. We believe in science, facts, and real conservation work. We remain committed to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the people who make feeding the families and pets we love possible.