Overview

Producers are tailoring their operations to meet consumer demands for pork products. Some are adjusting production systems to raise pork that can be labeled natural or organic. Another related way is by raising pork using a verification process. Other producers are taking proactive approaches at selling their own products directly to customers and foodservice operators. Some are involved with their own product processing.  September 2009 ... Commodity Pork

Marketing

• Beef and Pork Values and Price Spreads Explained, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2003 - This study found that prices tend to adjust more rapidly when increasing rather than decreasing. Information is provided on price spread calculations and the relationship between marketing costs and livestock prices.
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Fact Sheets - A set of 24 fact sheets and related slide presentations are available to help producers deal with revised federal regulations for CAFOs. A team of land-grant university faculty, Natural Resource Conservation Service staff and National Pork Board staff collaborated on the project.
• Consumer Attitudes Toward Color and Marbling of Fresh Pork, National Pork Board and American Meat Science Association, 1998 - This fact sheet, compiled by the National Pork Board in association with the American Meat Science Association, reports research results on consumer preferences for fresh pork.
• Consumer Preference, Attitude and Acceptance of Pork, Iowa State University, 2006 - Consumers are uncertain about the color and marbling qualities of pork that translate into excellent eating qualities.
• Evaluation of Alternative Coordination Systems Between Producers and Packers in the Pork Value Chain, Purdue University, 2003 - This study quantifies the differences in risk and price associated with alternative coordination mechanisms. 
• Investment in Downstream Publicly Traded Firms as a Vertical Integration Strategy to Increase Returns and Reduce Annual Volatility for Pork Producers, Purdue Agricultural Economics Report, 2003 - The objective of this research was to investigate the potential of a value-added portfolio consisting of investments of pork production and publicly traded value-added processing companies that will reduce the annual volatility of returns and improve annual returns relative to investing strictly in pork production.
• Pork: Marketing Alternatives, 2004 - This publication offers producers alternative marketing approaches, such as direct or niche marketing, for their pork.
• Valuing Market Hogs: Information and Pricing Issues, Kansas State University, 2004 - This 20-page online publication focuses on four major issues in slaughter hog market structure and pricing. It includes a summary of technology used to measure pork quality composition and fresh meat quality.

Processing/Manufacturing

• American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) - Represents more than 1,500 small- and medium-sized meat, poultry and food businesses. 
• Safety of Fresh Pork From Farm to Table, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA - This site provides an overview of pork inspection, retail cuts, how long consumers can store fresh and frozen pork and how long it takes to cook pork.
• North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) - A nonprofit trade association that provides information and technical services to the meat processing industry.
• Selling Meat and Meat Products, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, 2004 - Federal, state or local agency inspection is mandatory for any meat or meat product before it can be sold. This publication explains various product categories and tells which inspection each one requires. The free download (6-page pdf) includes links to regulatory references and other useful resources. ANR Product Code 8146.
• Pork Fact Sheets, American Meat Science Association.

Production

• The Alternative Swine Production Systems Program, University of Minnesota - The mission of this program is to promote research and development of low-emission and low-energy swine housing such as hoop structures, deep-bedded systems and outdoor/pasture based systems.
• Banff Pork Seminar - This annual conference held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, is regarded as one of the premier pork seminars. By selecting the Proceedings link, you may search past presentations.
• The Changing Economics of U.S. Hog Production, ERS, USDA, 2007 - Structural changes in the U.S. pork industry during the past 15 years have coincided with gains in efficiency and lower production costs.
• Characteristics and Production Costs of U.S. Hog Operations, ERS, USDA, 2007 - Operations specializing in a single production phase generated more than three times the product value, on average, than farrow-to-finish operations.
• Pork Industry Handbook, Purdue University Extension, 2007 - This handbook is regarded as the premier reference for modern U.S. pork production. It is available in book or DVD formats.
• Pork Model Finisher Financial Analysis Worksheet, University of Nebraska, 2008 - This site offers four worksheets to use, including owning and operating a grow/finish facility, owning and operating a wean-to-finish facility, contracting a wean-to-finish facility and contracting a grow/finish facility.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Bailey Foods, LLC, Bailey, North Carolina, 2008 - This packing plant specializes in roaster and barbecue pigs. Bailey Foods is owned by Andrew Hunt Farms, which specializes in high-quality pork production.
• Cloverdale Growers Alliance, Dunn Center, North Dakota, 2008 - This producer-oriented firm raises and sells hogs to Cloverdale Foods, which helps both companies reduce their costs and expand their markets.
• Eden Farms LLC, State Center, Iowa, 2008 - Founder Kelly Biensen can say his specialty pork business has been profitable every year since its beginning. Twenty-six small-farm producers are part of the operation, raising primarily certified Berkshire pork.
• Hogs, The New American Farmer, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), USDA - Describes five operations located throughout the United States.
• Planeview Enterprises, Jefferson, Iowa, 2005 - This diversified value-added agricultural company features three separate businesses: raspberries, Berkshire hogs and consulting services. Proprietors of the Central Iowa company are Larry and Pam Thomsen.
• Vande Rose Farms, Oskaloosa, Iowa, 2006 - This Iowa company raises pork and owns a catering business. The company is comprised of three extended families (Van Gilst, DeBruin and Rozenboom), whose ancestors emigrated from Holland more than 100 years ago.

Links checked November 2009.