As the Department of Justice continues to mull JBS' proposed acquisitions in the U.S. beef processing industry, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee plans a hearing on the issue next week.

The Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights subcommittee will hold its hearing on May 7, on "Concentration in Agriculture and an Examination of the JBS/Swift Acquisitions," at 2 p.m. EST. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), the subcommittee's chairman, will preside.

The subcommittee is the latest group to weigh in on the proposed acquisition, which would see Brazil-based JBS buy National Beef Packing LLC, Smithfield Beef Group and Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding LLC.

Several Congressional representatives, dozens of industry organizations and the Missouri State Attorney General also have made their concerns about the pending acquisition known to the Department of Justice, which has to approve the acquisitions.

The proposed deal was announced in early March; the DOJ's ruling on it is expected in the next couple of months.

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