The Role of Local Cooperatives in the Emerging Swine Industry

At least 12 reasons could propel cooperatives into a greater role in the swine industry; among them, protecting their market share in feed and offering a cooperative alternative to existing marketing channels. Yet, the industry offers a special challenge during the mid-l 990s because structural upheaval is completely redefining traditional methods of production and marketing. As a foundation for future efforts, the Cooperative Services program of USDA’s Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service and 5 regional cooperatives surveyed 1,314 local cooperatives in 1993. Results indicated local cooperatives urgently wanted greater direction and leadership from their regionals. They also wanted financial backing to offer member swine producers financing for operations and facilities. Without new facilities, producers cannot capture the benefits from such technological advances as all-in, all-out production, and split-sex feeding. Locals also indicated cooperatives had a special responsibility to work with small- and medium-size swine producers to avert circumstances which led to complete integration in the poultry industry.