Pork Niche Market Working Group

Purpose

Formed in 2002 as part of the Value Chain Partnerships project, this group works to foster the success of highly differentiated pork value chains that are profitable and sustaining to all participants.

PNMWG’s main activities are to

• Develop and implement research and outreach projects to address challenges facing niche pork producers.
• Disseminate information on niche pork topics through
  • the PNMWG website
  • E-mails to members
  • Webinars and other meetings

The Pork Niche Market Working Group is an open membership group that communicates primarily online. If you would like to be kept updated on the group’s activities or have a project idea please contact the group coordinator.

Contacting PNMWG

Pete Lammers is the group coordinator. You can reach him:

Pete Lammers, Assistant Professor of Agriculture and Swine Management
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois
pjlamme@ilstu.edu
515-520-9174

Working group reports

Berkshire Pork

• Berkshire Swine Production and Marketing (August 2006)
• Berkshire Production Decision Aids [Excel document] (August 2006)

Costs and Returns

• Costs, Returns, Production and Financial Efficiency of Niche Pork Production in 2008 (September 2009)
• Costs, Returns, Production and Financial Efficiency of Niche Pork Production in 2007 (November 2008)
• Costs, Returns, Production and Financial Efficiency of Niche Pork Production in 2006 (October 2007)

Health

• Survey of Disease Pressures in 26 Niche Herds in the Midwestern United States (September 2009)
• Health Challenges in Midwestern 'Niche' Pork Production Systems (January 2008)
• Managing for Herd Health in Alternative Swine Systems: A Guide (June 2007)

Housing and Management

• Niche Pork Production Handbook (December 2007)
• Winter Farrowing Greenhouse Project (June 2004)

Markets and Processing

• Marketing Specialty Hogs: A Comparative Analysis of Two Firms from Iowa (December 2007)
• Maximizing Carcass Utilization in Niche Pork Companies: Summary of Results (June 2007)
• Areas of Possible Collaboration Among Niche Pork Companies (January 2007)
• The United States Pork Niche Market Phenomenon (August 2006)
• An Evaluation of the Importance to Consumers of Selected Niche Pork Attributes, overheads about a consumer survey conducted for the National Pork Board (May 2005)
• New Product Development for Pork Niche Marketers (June 2004)
• LTL Trucking Terms and Process Guide (March 2004)
• Study on Iowa-Based Differentiated Pork: Executive Summary (October 2003)
• Niche Pork Marketing Opportunities (June 2003)
• A Survey of Pork Niche Marketers in the Midwest (June 2003)

Related materials

• PNMWG video from ISU Extension (February 2011)
• Specialty Pork Marketing Opportunities, article from Iowa Pork Producer (November 2006)
• Swine System Options for Iowa: Proceedings of February 1999 conference (February 1999)
• Swine System Options for Iowa: Swedish deep-bedded group nursing systems for feeder pig production (May 1997)
• Swine System Options for Iowa: Outdoor pig production: an approach that works (May 1996)
• Swine System Options for Iowa: Proceedings of February 1996 conference (February 1996)

Related grant projects

• Transitioning the Pork Niche Market Working Group to self-sufficiency (M2010-16)

Links we like

• Center for Environmental Farming Systems, North Carolina State University
• Iowa Pork Industry Center, Iowa State University
• Pork Information Gateway
• Practical Farmers of Iowa - Niche Pork program
• West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota