Attorneys General from 11 Midwestern states are urging the U.S. Justice Department to pursue a federal investigation into suspected national price fixing by meat packers in the cattle industry. South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg says South Dakota joined the other ten state’s attorneys general in asking U.S. Attorney General William Barr to look into the matter.

He says whether or not there’s antitrust violations going on, that’s what he hopes investigators find out. Ravnsborg says these market activities should be alarming to all cattle producers and consumers.

Ravnsborg says he’s not saying there is definite collusion by meat packers but given the market prices an investigation is warranted.

In their letter to the Justice Department the Attorneys General say they believe the pricing margins are a sign that meat packers are using their ability to control the market for processed beef and take advantage of the situation in a manner that could violate federal antitrust law.