By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD

Associated Press

ANKENY, Iowa -- Federal officials concerned about how much control a few corporations have over the nation's food supply pledged March 12 to begin a new era of antitrust enforcement, seeking to balance agricultural power between companies, farmers and consumers.

More than 650 farmers, slaughterhouse workers, lobbyists and executives gathered for a hearing on competition in agriculture that will help shape how the Obama administration redraws its antitrust policy after decades of industry consolidation.

Attorney General Eric Holder and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, sitting side-by-side to open the hearing, called the workshop an unprecedented act of cooperation between their agencies.

"I think you will see an historic era of enforcement that will almost inevitably grow from the partnership that we have established," Holder said.

Some Obama administration officials have made clear their unease with increasing consolidation in agribusiness, with just a handful of firms controlling the lion's share of biotech seeds as well as beef and poultry production.

Those in the audience at the hearing paid keen attention, trying to discern just how aggressive the Obama administration will be.

For farmers, it is an effort to constrain corporations like Monsanto Co., Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Tyson Foods Inc., which producers say wield unprecedented power over food production. Industry groups worry that new laws or big antitrust lawsuits could punish companies in the midst of a recession and stifle innovation and investment.

Holder and Vilsack said it's not clear yet what actions will ultimately result from the five hearings, which will examine competition in the dairy, seed, meatpacking and crop production.

But they said it won't just be a series of lawsuits. They're looking at developing broad policies that would ensure big companies don't have too much sway over the prices they pay to farmers or charge to consumers.

"This is not just about farmers and ranchers," Vilsack said. "It's really about the survival of rural America. We've seen a significant decline in the number of farmers and ranchers and that translates into a significant decline in the number of people living in rural America."

The hearings play to a long-brewing sense of powerless and frustration in small towns that was on display March 11 at a farmer's rally. More than 200 people packed a small ballroom and chanted: "Bust up big ag" as speakers took to the podium and told stories.

"If we can't get justice from the Department of Justice, where are we going to get it?" asked Garry Klicker, a farmer from Bloomfield, Iowa, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd. "We need to get these (companies) off our backs."

At the workshop, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and others outlined their concerns about consolidation in the farm sector.

"Bigger isn't per se bad," Grassley said. "But it can lead to predatory business practices and behaviors and that's what we've got to be concerned about."