The U.S. Department of Justice has announced an expansion of resources to address antitrust issues in agriculture.
The DOJ intends to expand hiring of attorneys for its Chicago office to assist with primarily antitrust, competition and fairness issues within agricultural supply chains, the department announced this week.
Doug Sombke is the president of South Dakota Farmers Union. He said the expansion of resources is what the Midwest has been waiting for.
“Since the 1980s, the government has taken a position, and the Department of Justice has taken a position, that consolidation was good for business. That letting business work its magic, let it do its thing, is the best way to continue the American way," Sombke said. "Well, we’ve proven that that is not true because we have done nothing but lose farms, we’ve done noting but lose small businesses. These companies, these huge multi-national companies like JBS, have done nothing but grown and taken advantage of us.”
He said the two additional attorneys will help streamline issues for South Dakota agricultural producers who are not being treated fairly.
“It goes clear back to the Teddy Roosevelt days, carrying a big stick, and keeping those corporations from being abusive and taking advantage and using their clout against small businesses and consumers. So, it’s high time that something like this happens,” Sombke said.
Sombke said this expansion of agriculturally based antitrust attorneys will make passing down family farms more viable in the future.
