Raising Poultry Increasingly a “Raw Deal” for Alabama Farmers

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/04/weld-chicken-farmer.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:460;s:6:"height";i:307;s:4:"file";s:31:"2016/04/weld-chicken-farmer.png";s:5:"sizes";a:5:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"weld-chicken-farmer-336x224.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"weld-chicken-farmer-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"weld-chicken-farmer-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"weld-chicken-farmer-397x265.png";s:5:"width";i:397;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"weld-chicken-farmer-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Cody Owens
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WELD
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:844078;s:14:"optimized_size";i:302663;s:7:"percent";d:64.140000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/weld-chicken-farmer.png";s:13:"original_size";i:273075;s:14:"optimized_size";i:94373;s:7:"percent";d:65.439999999999998;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/weld-chicken-farmer-140x140.png";s:13:"original_size";i:41317;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15833;s:7:"percent";d:61.68;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/weld-chicken-farmer-336x224.png";s:13:"original_size";i:142591;s:14:"optimized_size";i:50963;s:7:"percent";d:64.260000000000005;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/weld-chicken-farmer-300x300.png";s:13:"original_size";i:161376;s:14:"optimized_size";i:59227;s:7:"percent";d:63.299999999999997;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/weld-chicken-farmer-397x265.png";s:13:"original_size";i:192243;s:14:"optimized_size";i:69136;s:7:"percent";d:64.040000000000006;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/weld-chicken-farmer-125x125.png";s:13:"original_size";i:33476;s:14:"optimized_size";i:13131;s:7:"percent";d:60.770000000000003;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1616977616 
1461255067

In the U.S., poultry production has risen leaps and bounds over the past several decades. It’s now an almost $50 billion industry. Alabama is located in the heart of what’s considered the agricultural “chicken belt” of America. In 2013, Alabama farms produced roughly 1 billion chickens. While that may make it sound like the state’s poultry farming economy is healthy, farmers tell a different story. A mere two companies control about 40 percent of the U.S. chicken market. Additionally, every one of Alabama’s chickens is produced by contract famers, and some of these farmers tell the weekly newspaper WELD that they’re getting a raw deal.

“A generation ago, before the practice of contract farming took over, the majority of farmers in Alabama (and elsewhere) owned their own chickens,” writes Cody Owens in this week’s WELD. “Now, there is not a single privately owned chicken farm in the state. It is not uncommon for farmers to take out $1 million loans in order to build houses and obtain a contract with a major company like Tyson or Pilgrim that control a large portion of the market.”

For more, WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley spoke with Nick Patterson, editor of WELD. Patterson joins WBHM most Thursdays during All Things Considered.

Chicks at Buttram Farms in Geraldine, Alabama.

Cody Owens,WELD
Chicks at Buttram Farms in Geraldine, Alabama.

 

BSC’s Daniel Coleman talks about his years-long effort to save the school and what happens next.

After the news that Birmingham-Southern College is closing, we sat down with the school’s president, Daniel Coleman.

IVF could help her start the family she wants. Will Alabama’s personhood law derail it?

Despite a law meant to protect IVF in Alabama, patients and advocates worry the protections won’t hold — and warn of future attacks on reproductive rights.

Struggling Birmingham-Southern College says it will close at end of May

The College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to close the longtime institution, officials announced in a news release. The announcement came after legislation, aimed at securing a taxpayer-backed loan for the 168-year-old private college, had recently stalled in the Alabama Statehouse.

What happens when a rural hospital shuts its doors? Look to Pickens County

Residents in the west Alabama county warn that the lack of emergency care can have deadly consequences. It's a fate that could befall a growing number of rural communities.

What issues are driving you to the polls this year?

What issues are top of mind as you head to the polls this year? What do you want the candidates to be talking about?

Q&A: A bad deal made Jackson’s water problems worse. It wasn’t the only Mississippi city harmed

Reporter Sarah Fowler talks about her investigation that found at least eight Mississippi cities were harmed by deals over faulty smart water meters.

More Economy Coverage