Source: Chuck Abbott, SUCCESSFUL FARMING, 8/22/22


In the space of a generation, U.S. hog production has transformed, even if the Midwest, with Iowa foremost, is still the leader, said a new USDA report. There were half as many hog farms in the country in 2017 as there were in 1997, and the largest farms, often specialized operations, raised 93% of the pigs. “The shift to specialized operations occurred along with two other developments: The movement to widespread use of production contracts and the emergence of larger operations,” said the report, written by seven USDA economists.

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