MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The federal government's top antitrust investigator says the Department of Justice is keeping a watchful eye on the nation's dairy industry.

Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney said at today's hearing in Madison on antitrust issues that the Department of Justice wants to promote fairness in the dairy industry.

She says the department knows that dairy farmers are concerned about lagging prices and consolidation in the industry.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the purpose of the daylong hearing is to gather information about whether the playing field is fair in the dairy industry.

About 500 people attended the hearing.