John Shively, Kim Walker, and Jennifer Williams Zwagerman of Faegre & Benson attended the fifth and final DOJ-USDA joint workshop in Washington, D.C. on December 8. The workshop was the culmination of a year of sessions held in several cities across the United States focusing on competition and antitrust concerns in various segments of the food and agricultural industries. This final workshop focused on profit margins in the food and agricultural industries. Faegre attorneys also attended each of the previous four workshops which focused on agricultural competition, concentration and integration; the poultry industry; the dairy industry; and the livestock industry (particularly beef and hog industries). A summary and analysis of this final DOJ-USDA workshop and the several issues to watch coming out of these workshops is available on the Faegre & Benson website.
No one yet knows what actions will result from these workshops and the ongoing collaboration between the DOJ and USDA, but we may get some indication of their intentions from the DOJ’s expected decision on its investigation of Monsanto as well as USDA’s release of a final GIPSA rule. We will continue to monitor and report back on these important issues facing the agricultural and food industries.
I’m heading to Normal, Alabama. Will I see you there?
Friday marks the second of the joint public workshops being conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Justice that focus on agriculture and antitrust enforcement issues. The May workshop topic is poultry.
During the event I’ll be Tweeting with the rest of the group at #agworkshop and one of our Faegre & Benson attorneys will post a follow-up on the event, right here on this blog. Check back for more information.
Friday’s topics should include production contracts in the poultry industry, concentration and buyer power.
For More Information and Remaining Workshop Schedule
Today’s post author, Jennifer Zwagerman, is a member of the Faegre & Benson litigation practice and focuses primarily on food and agribusiness matters. Jennifer litigates and counsels a number of the firm’s food and agribusiness clients on issues related to agricultural products liability, agricultural contracts, food labeling and regulation and environmental and nuisance laws. She handles cases venued in both federal and state courts.