There’s no question that U.S. pork production has changed over the last 20 years. According to the USDA, hog farm numbers between 1991 and 2009 decreased by 70% but hog inventories during that period remained pretty stable.
Those changes have resulted in a U.S. pork industry that is comprised of larger hog operations, increase specialization in each production phase, more reliance on purchased rather than homegrown feeds, and increased use of production contracts.
It has also led to higher productivity overall and lower pork prices for consumers. (Read a full USDA report on this at https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/45148/40364_err158.pdf?v=0).
The states producing the most pork include:
Iowa - $4.2 billion
Illinois - $1.54 billion
Minnesota - $1.47 billion
North Carolina - $1.46 billion
Indiana - $1.04 billion
Oklahoma - $952.7 million
Missouri - $791.1 million
Nebraska - $657.5 million
Wisconsin - $605.2 million
Ohio – $542.7 million
Read more at: https://www.agweb.com/article/bringing-home-the-bacon-top-10-pork-producing-states-NAA-ben-potter
Experts project that U.S. pork production “is poised to grow by 5.5% in the 4th quarter of 2019 and another 2.8% in 2020.” That means supply must grow in order to meet the demand. (Read more at https://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/marketing/pork-demand-getting-all-attention-don-t-forget-supply)