A new report from the National Pork Producers Council demonstrates firsthand the positive impact of the pork industry on the agricultural economy.
According to Holly Cook, an NPPC staff economist, the industry is also a pillar of the overall U.S. economy.
“On the farming side, more than 66,000 pig farms raise approximately 140 million hogs each year, and the number of farms has actually increased since 2012, with family farms accounting for 96 per cent of all U.S. pig farms.”
Through a variety of related services such as trucking, grain elevators, insurance, and other rural-based businesses, the pork industry supports over 600,000 jobs.
In 2021, the harvest and processing side alone employs 138,000 people and produces more than 28 billion pounds of pork. Last year, the pork industry contributed $57 billion to the gross national product.”
Terry Wolters, NPPC President, is a pig farmer from Minnesota. According to him, the report documents trends in US pork production and quantifies the industry’s impact throughout the supply chain.
“Findings are critical to share as America’s pork producers engage with regulators and policymakers, food companies, and others to convey how our businesses, directly and indirectly, impact the larger economy.”
It also illustrates the impact that various issues can have on our industry and how those impacts can have a ripple effect. As a pork producer, this type of analysis makes me proud to see the impact I can have as part of a thriving US pork industry.”
According to Cook, exports account for a significant portion of total US pork demand.
“Last year, approximately 25% of US pork was exported, amounting to seven billion pounds and more than $8 billion in value.”
Exports add significant value to each hog marketed in the United States, adding more than $62 per head in value in 2021.
The American pork industry has established an international reputation for high-quality, affordable, and safe pork, and we will continue to look for opportunities to export pork abroad.”
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According to Wolters, the pork industry has undergone significant changes in the last 20 years, with pork producers adapting to ongoing and emerging issues.
“Global market conditions and competing demand for feed grain inputs require producers to carefully plan and mitigate financial risks to be profitable.”
The threat of animal disease pressure is very real, especially now that African Swine Fever has been detected in the Western Hemisphere for the first time in 40 years.
The expansion of our industry over the years has increased the demand for workers. Shifting demographics in our rural communities, as well as our restrictive visa program for seasonal workers, are major threats that could limit pork production for years to come.
Exports, according to Cook, account for a sizable portion of total US pork demand.
With challenges come opportunities. America’s Pork Producers are proud to provide affordable, safe, and delicious food to consumers in the United States and around the world.”
