Vertical coordination in the US pork industry: Status, motivations, and expectations

In addition to horizontal consolidation at the input, production, and processing subsectors, the US pork industry is becoming more vertically aligned. The largest hog producers and pork processors were surveyed regarding their involvement in vertical coordination arrangements and their plans for future involvement in such programs. Motivation for entering these vertical agreements was examined as was the rate of adoption. Structural and regional implications of these results for the pork industry are discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.