So much for the corporate hog battle

Greg & Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Fri, 20 Nov 1998 12:03:08 -0500

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It sure looks like some battles may be won against the corporate hog =
farms, but the war is going to be lost. The battle out here on the =
family farms is being lost because of market concentration. I sold pigs =
for $16.50 today. Adjusted for inflation, pigs have NEVER been this =
cheap. That is about Great Depression prices. Its going to take its toll =
on small independent producers. Some of us die hard independents will =
figure out a way to survive it, but most aren't. I wonder how much the =
big hog players receive for their pigs? Surely not $16/cwt?
I never thought it would be inevitable that the "megas" would control =
the industry. But I'm not sure anymore. A fair and competitive market =
instead of regulations would have cured all this a long time ago. =
Unless something is done to address the concentration of US ag markets, =
its just a matter of time before the only hogs in the country are from =
"factory farms".
I know marketing is supposed to be the answer, but there is surely an =
easier way to make a living than trying to figure out how to market =
500-1000 pigs/year.
Best wishes,
Greg Gunthorp
=20

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  It sure looks like some = battles may be=20 won against the corporate hog farms, but the war is going to be = lost.  The=20 battle out here on the family farms is being lost because of market=20 concentration.  I sold pigs for $16.50 today.  Adjusted for = inflation,=20 pigs have NEVER been this cheap. That is about Great Depression prices. = Its=20 going to take its toll on small independent producers.  Some of us = die hard=20 independents will figure out a way to survive it, but most aren't.  = I=20 wonder how much the big hog players receive for their pigs?  Surely = not=20 $16/cwt?
  I never thought it would be = inevitable=20 that the "megas" would control the industry.  But I'm not = sure=20 anymore.   A fair and competitive market instead of = regulations would=20 have cured all this a long time ago.  Unless something is done to = address=20 the concentration of US ag markets, its just a matter of time before the = only=20 hogs in the country are from "factory farms".
  I know = marketing is=20 supposed to be the answer, but there is surely an easier way to make a = living=20 than trying to figure out how to market 500-1000 pigs/year.
Best wishes,
Greg = Gunthorp
 
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