Mr. Fanaki, thank you so much for attending today.
We have received testimony from a number of witnesses, particularly smaller farmers who feel they are controlled to a certain degree by dominance, either from those who control the inputs into their farming, or, on the other end, processing and distribution.
One example was the dominance where some of the processors and distributors, possibly Cargill and other large ones that have their own feedlots and supply their own cattle, manage to get so big that the result is, as Mr. Easter often refers to, the closing of 3,500 to 3,600 farms a year.
When you look at these mergers, do you consider the possible activity of these larger distributors and processors after the fact?
You may have already alluded to this somewhat in your answer to Mr. Hoback's question, but are you able to put aggressive, possibly invasive, conditions on these mergers to prohibit them from engaging in certain conduct later, so that the small guys aren't left out and aren't hurt?