Some are even wondering if they are becoming an extinct species as they suffer in quiet desperation. A systems perspective of the economic organization of the marketing channel represents a good way of assessing the changing makeup of production agriculture. Commercial farmers typically use open markets, cooperative bargaining associations and integrated marketing cooperatives as a method of pricing and moving products off the farm and into the marketing channel. Varying degrees of producer ownership exist as product advances downstream. Open assembly markets continue to experience a reduction in volume of products handled as more integration occurs.
Considerable interest is found among commercial producers in cooperative bargaining and marketing.
In contrast, piece-wage contract growers are essentially offering their management services unit to corporate integrators for a fee. Corporate ownership of production and distribution typified by Smithfields and Tysons ultimately displaces farm operators entirely. Farm policy generally has not addressed issues in the structure of production agriculture. Corporate factories in the field are increasingly worming their way into production agriculture. We can observe evidence of activities on both fronts taking place.