leading producer of USDA-certified organic chicken
leader in No Antibiotics Ever
3rd
largest poultry company in the U.S. by sales (7% of market)
4th
largest poultry company in the U.S. by production
Perdue AgriBusiness ranks among the top U.S. grain companies
Niman Ranch generates more than 50% more economic value for the local economy than the conventional hog industry, per 100,000 hogs sold, a new economic impact analysis revealed. The analysis, conducted by respected regional economist Dave Swenson, also showed that Niman Ranch creates over 150% more jobs than conventional hog production and in 2019, the year studied, generated more than $20 million in added value for the local Iowa economy.
“Local economies would prosper if more adopted Niman Ranch’s approach instead of conventional production,” said Swenson of his findings. “This is the Main Street effect. The small farmers in Niman’s network hire more people, spend more regionally and their employees also spend their money closer to home.”
Niman Ranch was founded by farmers and ranchers and its business model was developed to ensure producers are treated fairly and can make a meaningful living. Niman Ranch pays farmers a premium that is based on inputs, like feed, rather than commodity markets, providing a stable premium they can count on. The premium pay and security Niman Ranch offers allows farmers to reinvest in their businesses and local communities, creating an economic multiplier effect.
This year, the Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation celebrated passing an important milestone by distributing over one million dollars to young farmers and future sustainable agriculture leaders since its inception in 2006.
The Foundation’s alumni network boasts hundreds of young people who are making real impacts far and wide. Career paths of scholarship and grant recipients include: Niman Ranch hog, lamb and cattle farmers and ranchers, USDA soil conservation agents, teachers, veterinarians, rural nurses and so much more.
Recipients site the scholarships and grants as being instrumental in their career paths, reducing student loan debt and providing the freedom upon graduation to return to the farm or pursue a profession of their choosing.
As a family-owned, privately held company, we make business decisions that effectively balance our long-term strategies with short-term requirements while staying true to what we believe in. That way, we can make sure our actions bring us closer to our goals. We have a core code of conduct and ethical practices, which we share with all associates and recommunicate to managers annually.
We also know that our ability to contribute positively to others depends on the resources we generate through our business. Our value of stewardship includes the responsibility to generate profitable growth to support the strategic plans of our company, sustaining us into the future.
We understand that our success goes hand in hand with our ability to help our business partners—including our customers, farm partners and vendors—be successful. This is founded in our core values of quality, integrity teamwork and stewardship, and it extends into our strategic growth plans.
Most of our chickens and turkeys are raised on local farms by more than 2,200 independent farmers contracted to care for our poultry on their farms.
Our poultry house contracts are designed to help insulate farmers from most of the financial risks associated with raising chickens and turkeys—including volatile markets—while providing year-round farm income and rewarding top performance. Those contracts were developed with input from our farmers and written in plain English, and they include provisions for peer review to resolve issues between the company and our farmers.
Farmers who raise hogs for sale to Coleman Natural put in extra work to meet our care standards, including no antibiotics ever and an all-vegetarian diet. In turn, they receive a premium price for their animals. We help them with veterinary and technical support.
Niman Ranch is a community of more than 750 independent family farmers and ranchers who raise pork, beef and lamb, traditionally, humanely and sustainably. Niman Ranch is the largest farmer and rancher network in North America to be Certified Humane®.
Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Meats®, is the nation’s largest producer of 100 percent grass-fed, grass-finished, USDA Certified Organic beef with 34 independent family ranchers that span eight states and nearly one million acres of land. Ranchers who raise Panorama cattle treat the animals humanely in low-stress environments and employ pasture rotation and land-management practices that promote animal health and protect delicate rangeland ecosystems.
Panorama Organic ensures animal welfare standards through the Global Animal Partnership program, a nonprofit organization made up of farmers, scientists, retailers, manufacturers, and animal advocates, all collaborating with a common purpose: improving farm animal welfare. To remain in this program, our ranchers are audited every 15 months through independent third parties.
Perdue has been contracting with farmers to raise our poultry since the 1950s. Many of the farm families raising our poultry have been with our company across multiple generations, with sons and daughters deciding to build poultry houses based on the experiences of their parents and grandparents. Our ability to attract new farmers is dependent upon the trust we earn within the farm community.
Farmers are paid for raising the chickens, with higher pay going to those who are most efficient. A contract poultry operation is like any other business in that farmers need to reinvest in their operations to remain competitive. In addition, standards related to food safety, bird health and welfare and environmental stewardship change over time as a result of, among other things, advances in animal husbandry, changing consumer and customer expectations and new laws and regulations. However, Perdue often provides no-interest financing and other incentives to assist farmers with necessary upgrades.
We have high standards for how we expect our birds to be raised, including no-antibiotics-ever protocols, poultry care programs that exceed the norm for the U.S. poultry business, environmental stewardship and the expectation that farmers raising our chickens will be good neighbors.
We promise to consider our farmers when making changes. We are modifying our business relationships with contracts that reward care and welfare, in addition to production and efficiency.
Farms raising our poultry are subject to third-party certifications and verifications, including our USDA Process Verified Program for Poultry Care, USDA Certified Organic and Global Animal Partnership certifications.
Learn about the steps we're taking to reach our goal of becoming the most trusted name in food and agricultural products.
