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
        )

)
1637550191 
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.

 

Trump names former Florida AG Pam Bondi as his new pick for U.S. attorney general

After former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration, President-elect Donald Trump named Pam Bondi, a former attorney general of Florida, as his next pick for U.S. attorney general.

Police report gives details, timeline of the sexual assault claim against Pete Hegseth

The woman who accused then-Fox News host of sexual assault in 2017 said that she "remembered saying 'no' a lot," according to a police report. Hegseth is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense.

Alabama Black Belt’s sewer crisis a tougher fix for residents in manufactured homes

Poor sanitation has long plagued residents in Alabama’s Black Belt. For people with manufactured houses, finding a solution has been more challenging.

In Birmingham, Black men’s groups work to save young men from the cycle of gun violence

As the city inches closer to its homicide record, community members are trying to address a sense of fatalism and lack of opportunity felt by some young men.

What is the ICC and can it really arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

The ICC also issued warrants for Yoav Gallant, former Israeli defense minister, and Hamas leader Muhammad Deif. But it doesn't have an enforcement mechanism and relies on states to make the arrests.

Former Brazilian president indicted over alleged coup plot

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro and several others have been charged with attempting to overthrow incoming government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022.

More Economy Coverage