Broiler contracting: A constructive view

摘要

Growers and integrators need each other for the contract broiler production system to work. Here are one observer's thoughts on improving those relationships. The contract system used for poultry meat production in the United States represents a unique and innovative approach to commodity production that has generally been advantageous to all parties involved (i.e., growers, integrators and lending agencies). It is a system that incorporates a contractual agreement between growers and integrators, while providing for a substantial shift of risks and responsibilities to integrators. The contract system has been an integral and important part of the poultry meat industry for more than 40 years, but this working relationship has been seriously challenged in recent years.