Madison McVan
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Researchers think long-tenured farmers in the Midwest are less likely to make deals with Big Ag companies.
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Technological innovation, specialization, increased farm size and policy decisions have driven down the cost of production.
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Production contracts lock farmers into guaranteed prices and lower financial risk, but put meat companies in control of some aspects of the operation.
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Farms are more likely to specialize in one or two stages of a hog’s life cycle, instead of raising animals from birth to slaughter.
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The number of large hog operations increased while small farms disappeared in recent decades.
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A team of third-party experts will help reduce employee coronavirus exposure and prepare for potential future outbreaks.