Farmers

The people who work the land and care for our animals are important to us. Our quality proteins begin right here, in the United States, with the more than 11,000 independent livestock and poultry farmers we depend on every day.

Independent Farmers

Video Description: It's the hard work of independent farmers like Brandon and his wife, Dara, that helps feed our communities. Listen as they talk about their lifelong love of farming and what it means to help others.

It's the hard work of independent farmers like Brandon and his wife, Dara, that helps feed our communities. Listen as they talk about their lifelong love of farming and what it means to help others.

Contract poultry farming is not just the industry standard; it's also a relationship we believe works well for everyone.

We supply the birds and feed, and provide technical advice, while the poultry farmer provides the labor, housing and utilities. This cooperation between Tyson Foods and family farms increases efficiency and quality, while maintaining affordable prices for consumers.

About Contract Poultry Farming

Poultry Farmers

Video Description: We've been working with poultry farmers on a contract basis since the 1940s. Some farm families have been raising chickens for us for three generations.

We’ve been working with independent poultry farmers since the 1940s; it’s important to us to work with those who care about the animals entrusted to their care. Some have been raising chickens for us for three generations. For them, it's a labor of love.

Become a Tyson Poultry farmer

Are you already a Tyson Poultry Farmer?

Visit our farmers site

Expectations

Independent farmers play a vital role in our success. We rely on more than 11,000 independent farmers to provide healthy chicken, cattle and hogs that have been treated properly and raised with modern, proven animal care practices.

More than 3,700 independent farmers raise chickens for us. We supply the birds, feed and technical advice, while the farmers care for the chickens by providing the farm, housing and labor.

We don't own or operate any feedlots, so we buy cattle from nearly 4,000 independent feeders and ranchers. They supply our beef plants in the Midwest, South and Pacific Northwest.

We buy pigs from up to 2,000 independent farmers to supply our pork plants in the Corn Belt. The farmers are expected to raise hogs that meet our standards for high quality pork.