Sioux Falls, SD —  U.S. Senator John Thune issued the following statement on the decision by the Department of Justice on the Smithfield merger announced today.

"The decision of the Justice Department is another sign that it does not take healthy competition in agricultural markets seriously. I intend to demand more hearings from the Senate Agriculture Committee on the issue of competition and proper enforcement of the antitrust laws. I have long been an advocate of strengthening our antitrust laws and enforcement in the area of agricultural markets and this decision from DOJ could be the final trigger needed for Congress to take action."