christine varney was a partner in washington d.c. where she served in a dual capacity as member of the antitrust practice group and head of the internet practice group. from 1994 to 1997 she was federal trade commissioner of the federal trade commission and was leading official on a wide variety of issues. prior to her circus and the federal trade commission she served as assistant to the president and to the cabinet in the clinton administration. thank you for being here. now to the panelists and we thank each and every one of these individuals for taking time to be involved. i will do this in alphabetical order. ben burkett as a farmer in mississippi. his family has for 121 years. he now grows 16 varieties of vegetables and herbs from farmers' markets. and arm of the federation of southern cooperatives, and president of the national farm family coalition. next is barry carpenter, ceo of the national meat association. and following a 37 year career at usc and. during his tenure, represented the meat industry on a ray of key issues f

i also want to recognize the outstanding efforts of assistant attorney general christine varney and the justice department's antitrust division. each workshop i have been impressed with the diision's work in making the vision of these conversations a reality and now that we find oursees at the final workshop, it is clear that their contributions are paying off. we have learned a tremendous amount from farmers and producers -- and from industry executives and experts. and yet every expectation that the fruits of this workshop series will benefit the agriculture industry for years to come. over the last nine months, we have discussed everything as the secretary indicated from vertical integration and dairy prices to the implications of the packers and stockyards act and leading poultry industry challenges. psychiatry vilsack and i have had the chance to hear directly from the hard-working farmers and producers, business professionals, economists, and elected officials. and the impact that those conversations had on our thinking. and on the enforcement strategies we are developing has been

i also want to recognize the outstanding efforts of assistant attorney general christine varney and the justice department's antitrust division. each workshop i have been impressed with the division's work in making the vision of these conversations a reality. and now that we find ourselves at the final workshop, it is clear that their contributions are paying off. we have learned a tremendous amount from farmers and producers -- and from industry executives and experts. and yet every expectation that the fruits of this workshop series will benefit the agriculture industry for years to come. over the last nine months, we have discussed everything as the secretary indicated from vertical integration and dairy prices to the implications of the packers and stockyards act and leading poultry industry challenges. psychiatry vilsack and i have had the chance to hear directly from the hard-working farmers and producers, business professionals, economists, and elected officials. and the impact that those conversations had on our thinking. and on the enforcement strategies we are developing has