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Vilsack says co-ops not focus of antitrust probe

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has assured members of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives that co-ops are not the focus of the administration’s initiative to examine antitrust issues.

According to a DTN report, Vilsack told the co-op group that their concerns about the Capper-Volstead Act have been “unfortunately generated” by statements by other administration officials.  Vilsack’s comments come just days before the next scheduled USDA/Department of Justice ag competition workshop, to be held in Madison, Wisconsin.  That June 25^th workshop will focus on concentration in dairy, an industry in which co-ops are major players.  Some dairy farmers have questioned whether the dairy cooperatives have been paying them a fair price for milk.