May 20, 1999

Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) wants the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to see if agricultural mergers and acquisitions since 1980 that were examined at the time can be reopened to check for any antitrust violations that might have occurred.

In letters to Assistant Attorney General Joel Klein and FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky, Wellstone asked both the compile a list of mergers and acquisitions in the agricultural sector since 1980 "that went forward after review." He then asked Klein and Pitofsky to meet to discuss "what options might be available for possibly re-examining and reopening some of these mergers."

Wellstone also wrote to the National Association of State Attorneys General for an investigation of economic concentration and possible antitrust violations in U.S. agricultural markets.

"It has become clear that part of our challenge is whether we can reduce current levels of extraordinary concentration. I believe one of our next steps must be to review mergers than have occurred in recent years," Wellstone said.