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Niche marketing helps add value to porkBy Jennifer Bremer 
Adding value to agriculture products is important for all farmers in times of higher input costs and unstable markets. Gary Huber, program specialist for Practical Farmers of Iowa, said now is the time for pork producers to find the best way to market their products. "Right now we are in a crisis situation, no matter if you are a conventional or niche producer. Higher prices are needed at the consumer end so we know what they will pay," he said. Huber is the director of the pork niche marketing working group, which is a group trying to add value to products that will continue and last in the future. Value chains work to provide economic, social and ecological benefits to Iowa farmers, communities and landscapes and Huber said those who can last until the end of a project such as this will make more money. Specifically, the pork group wants to foster successful niche pork value chains that are profitable to all participants, incorporate farmer ownership and control and contribute to environmental stewardship and rural vitality. Currently, nine companies are involved in the group, which has received funding from USDA grants, sustainable agriculture groups like the Leopold Center, the National Pork Board and the Iowa Pork Producers Association. The group has many ongoing projects studying pork quality issues, analyzing systems and efficiencies and educating all producers about their findings. Huber said most of the project results are seen at the producer end, where actual pork producers are assisting with the studies and receiving the results. "Especially the natural and organic studies are very producer driven," he said. The top areas for collaboration the group has been looking at includes carcass utilization, less-than-load transportation, sourcing and procurement of live hogs, market intelligence and coordinated access to large markets such as export sales. A new handbook is now available from Iowa State University, focusing on niche pork production and how to deal with records, environmental issues, nutrition, reproduction and genetics, production flow, pork quality, pig husbandry and input costs. Huber said it is important to keep good records to determine profitability of the operation. Results of a 2006 study show that niche producer's pounds of feed per pound of gain are about one pound higher than industry average, at 4.13 pounds on average. However, the number of pigs weaned per litter was considerably lower at 6.7 pigs on average. "It's important to have the facilities and the labor to be able to raise for a niche market effectively," said Huber. The pork niche marketing working group continues to help farmers learn more about niche markets and developing plans to make the niche markets more readily available and profitable for all pork producers. Jennifer Bremer can be reached by phone at 515-833-2120 or by e-mail at jbremermaj@hotmail.com. 4/7/08 Date: 4/3/08
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