Claire Thompson
Perdue Farms, one of the largest poultry companies in the US, works with contracted farmers to raise chickens. To become a chicken farmer for Perdue, you must adhere to the company's standards and provide continuous care for the birds, including daily health and growth monitoring. Farmers are vetted through interviews and reviews of their poultry house plans or past farming records. While Perdue provides support and access to resources, some critics argue that the company exerts too much control over contracted farmers, who bear significant risks and debt. However, many Perdue farmers take pride in their work and value the stability and technological advancements that the company offers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company Description | Perdue Farms is a leading poultry and grain company that has been in operation for over a century. |
| Farmer Requirements | Farmers are vetted through interviews and reviews of poultry house building plans and past farming records. |
| Farmer Operations | Farmers adhere to Perdue's standards, provide continuous care for birds, and maintain poultry house equipment. They are responsible for checking bird health and growth multiple times daily and incorporating biosecurity measures. |
| Farmer Support | Each farmer is assigned a flock advisor for support and suggestions. Perdue also provides access to veterinarians, nutritionists, and other experts. |
| Farmer Independence | Farmers are typically contracted exclusively to Perdue and must follow specific protocols and standards set by the company. Perdue maintains ownership of the birds and determines breed, flock size, and processing time. |
| Farmer Income | Poultry houses can supplement farm income or become the primary source of income through economies of scale. Income stability is provided through predictable year-round revenue. |
| Farmer Experience | Farmer experiences vary, with some expressing satisfaction and others facing challenges such as long hours, debt, and variable payouts. |
| Farmer Locations | Perdue's network includes over 2,000 farms across states like Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and more. |
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What You'll Learn
Perdue's farmer vetting process
Perdue Farms, one of the largest poultry companies in the US, works with small US farming families who respect both the animals in their care and the land. Perdue has a vetting process in place for farmers, both new and existing, who want to join their network. This process includes interviews and reviews of poultry house building plans and/or past farming records.
Once approved, the farmer signs a contract to work exclusively with Perdue and must adhere to the company's standards. This includes providing continuous care for the birds, checking them multiple times a day, tracking their health and growth, and maintaining the poultry house equipment. Farmers are also responsible for incorporating biosecurity measures to protect the flock from diseases.
Perdue maintains ownership of the birds, and the contract stipulates that farmers can only use feed, medication, vaccinations, and other supplies provided or arranged by the company. Perdue also determines the breed of chickens, the flock size, and the time allowed for processing each flock.
After signing the contract, each farmer is assigned a flock advisor who provides weekly support and suggestions for improvements. The advisor also connects the farmer to Perdue Farms' network of veterinarians, nutritionists, and other experts as needed.
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Farmer contract requirements
Before signing a contract, farmers are vetted in a process that includes interviews and reviews of poultry house building plans and/or past farming records. Once approved, Perdue assigns a flock advisor who visits their assigned farms weekly to provide support and suggestions for improvement. Perdue also provides access to the company's network of veterinarians, nutritionists, and other experts.
As a contracted farmer working exclusively with Perdue, farmers must adhere to the company's standards. This includes providing continuous care for the birds, checking them multiple times a day, tracking their health and growth, and maintaining poultry house equipment. Farmers are also responsible for incorporating biosecurity measures to protect the flock from diseases.
Perdue maintains ownership of the birds and determines the breed, feed, medication, vaccinations, and other supplies used in the farming process. The company also stipulates the numbers in each flock, the time allowed for processing, and placement for future flocks. While the company owns and operates the means of production, farmers are responsible for the housing of the birds.
Some farmers have taken advantage of economies of scale to make their poultry farms their primary source of income. Perdue's poultry houses incorporate advanced designs and technology to create optimal growing conditions for the birds, improving performance while reducing labour.
Perdue works with small U.S. farming families who respect the animals in their care and the land. The company's network spans over 2,000 farms across various states, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Many farmers within the network represent multiple generations of poultry farming.
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Farmer responsibilities
As a Perdue contracted farmer, you will be expected to adhere to the company's standards and, in turn, Perdue will adhere to the standards set by its customers. You will need to provide continuous care for the birds, checking on them multiple times a day to track their health and growth. You will also need to maintain the poultry house equipment and be available to respond immediately to any issues with the poultry house systems critical to bird health and welfare. Incorporating biosecurity measures to protect the flock from diseases will also be part of your daily life.
Perdue provides its farmers with the most advanced designs and technology to create optimal growing conditions for the birds, improving performance while reducing labour. For example, automatic feeders, automatic waterers, automatic ventilation, and grain selected by the company are often included.
As a Perdue farmer, you will be vetted through a process that includes interviews and reviews of poultry house building plans and/or past farming records. Once approved and the contract is signed, every farmer is assigned a flock advisor who provides support, suggestions for improvements, and access to Perdue Farms' network of veterinarians, nutritionists and more.
If you are a Coleman Natural farmer, you will be required to follow strict raising protocols and meet or exceed the more than 200 science-based standards outlined by the American Humane Certified program. Coleman organic chicken producers raise their birds in a free-range environment and are all certified organic farms. Both hog and poultry operations follow the Five Freedoms, a globally accepted measure of animal care that goes beyond the basics of food, water, shelter and health to include freedom from distress and the freedom to express normal behaviours.
Niman Ranch farmers are committed to sustainability, balancing the needs of today without compromising the needs of tomorrow from an environmental, economic and people perspective.
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Perdue's support for farmers
Perdue Farms has a long history of supporting farmers, especially small family farmers and ranchers. The company believes in responsible food and agriculture and is committed to empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services. Perdue Farms has a network of over 2,000 farms across the United States, many of which are small U.S. farming families who respect the animals in their care and the land.
Perdue offers farmers the opportunity to join them on a path of continuous improvement. Contract poultry growing has provided farm income for more than half a century, giving farm families stable and predictable year-round revenue. Perdue's poultry houses incorporate advanced designs and technology to create optimal growing conditions for the birds, improving performance while reducing labor. The company also provides support and suggestions for improvements, as well as access to its network of veterinarians, nutritionists, and other experts.
Perdue also supports the next generation of farmers through scholarships, grants, and funding programs. The Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, has awarded scholarships to children of associates and independent farm family partners since 1983. These scholarships can be used at any accredited college in the United States. Perdue Farms has also sponsored the National FFA Organization, which provides its members with experience in agricultural literacy, leadership development, and career exploration. The company has also supported the Give the Gift of Blue program with a $20,000 grant to help more FFA members feel welcome and part of something bigger.
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Farmer experiences
Becoming a Perdue chicken farmer is a significant undertaking, and farmer experiences vary. Perdue has been a part of farmer Ammon's journey since 1992. Ammon, a first-generation farmer from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has dedicated 43 years to the profession. He built chicken houses when he was young, dreaming of building his own. His goal is to raise the best-tasting chicken, and he achieves this by keeping his birds happy and healthy. Similarly, Edward and Debbie from Northampton County, North Carolina, have raised chickens for 30 years. They check on their chickens at least three to five times a day to ensure they are thriving.
JC and Becky from Bertie County, North Carolina, have been raising their own chickens since 2007. They value the simple things on the farm, like watching the birds come and go, and the joy of seeing their granddaughter play with the chicks. Phillip, a farmer since 1999, continues his family's legacy into its third generation. He enjoys working with Perdue, describing them as 'down-to-earth', and has diversified his farm with the addition of poultry. John and Linda, from Kent County, Delaware, are another couple who have farming in their family for 65 years. They were among the first Perdue growers on Delmarva to be selected for the organic program.
However, not all experiences are positive. Some farmers have reported frustration and exploitation, with companies pitting farmers against each other, leading to depressed wages and unstable communities. Former chicken farmer Craig Watts shared how the contract system was a disaster for his farm, as he had no control over feed or chicken health. Additionally, a Reddit user shared a negative experience, describing non-stop work with zero ethics and all the risk. They also mentioned the challenge of debt and upgrades required by the company, leaving farmers stuck.
Overall, becoming a Perdue chicken farmer can provide a stable income and the opportunity to work with a leading company. However, it is important to carefully review contracts, plan for financial swings, and be aware of the potential risks and challenges associated with contract farming.
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Frequently asked questions
Perdue has opportunities for farmers to join them on a path of continuous improvement. For more than half a century, contract poultry growing has contributed to farm income, providing stable, predictable year-round revenue. Perdue also provides the most advanced designs and technology to create optimal growing conditions for the birds, improving performance while reducing labor.
Some people view contract chicken farming as a scheme to put all the risks of farming on the farmers without the company accepting responsibility for anything that goes wrong. Contracts hand a lot of control to Perdue, who maintains ownership of the birds and determines the breed, feed, medication, and other factors. This can lead to farmers being burdened with debt and having no alternative buyers.
Farmers are vetted through a process that includes interviews and reviews of poultry house building plans and/or past farming records. Once approved, every farmer is assigned a flock advisor who provides support and suggestions for improvements. As a contracted farmer, you'll need to adhere to Perdue's standards, provide continuous care for the birds, and incorporate biosecurity measures to protect the flock from diseases.
Experiences vary among Perdue chicken farmers. Some farmers appreciate the stability and support provided by the company, while others feel burdened by debt and a lack of control. Many farmers within the Perdue network represent multiple generations of their families, continuing their legacy of raising poultry.
There are other large poultry companies in the US, such as Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, Sanderson Farms, and Koch Foods, that operate similarly to Perdue. Small-scale chicken production of 2000 birds or less per year typically involves more leg work and may be pasture-based with on-site processing.
