Justice Department, USDA to explore poultry competition

Competition and regulatory issues in agriculture will be examined in a series of Department of Justice (DOJ) and USDA workshops beginning in March 2010.
Poultry production contracts, industry concentration and buyer power will be the focus of a workshop at Alabama A&M University, May 21, Normal, Ala.
Crop, dairy, hog and beef farming issues will be addressed in other workshops scheduled March through December 2010.
Each workshop may feature keynote speakers, expert panels and break-out panels that will address more narrowly focused issues. At each workshop, the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.
Written comments in advance of the workshops can be submitted in both paper and electronic form to the Department of Justice, no later than Dec. 31, 2009. Two paper copies should be addressed to the Legal Policy Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 5th Street, NW, Suite 11700, Washington, D.C. 20001.
The May 21 workshop on poultry production issues will be held in the auditorium of Alabama A&M’s James I. Dawson Cooperative Extension Building at 4900 Meridian Street.