The U.S. Justice Department and Attorneys General in Wisconsin and Massachusetts have been conducting an antitrust investigation of Dairy Farmers of America’s purchase of dairy processing facilities from bankrupt Dean Foods. Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish says his concern is that DFA will gain a large control of the market with that acquisition.
He says his group is still advocating a moratorium on all mega ag company mergers.
DFA came to an agreement with the Justice Department where they are divesting three of the dairy processing operations they acquired from Dean Foods. Wertish says while divestment seems positive it really doesn’t solve the concentration problem or its overall detrimental effects.
A statement from the U.S. Justice Department it conducted a quick investigation but that their actions preserve competition for fluid milk processing in northeastern Illinois, Wisconsin and in New England.
