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U.S. hog inventory up slightly; weaned pigs per litter still strong

Hog Outlook: Averted port strike is good news for the U.S. pork industry.

Kevin Schulz, Editor

October 14, 2024

2 Min Read
Piglets nursing on sow
EFFICIENT PRODUCTION: U.S. hog producers continue to impress with their productivity in the barns, boasting an average of 11.72 pigs weaned per litter. Courtesy of National Pork Board

Shortly before Pork Month (October) was ushered in, the swine industry got a glimpse at the latest numbers as the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service issued the quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report.

That report shows that as of Sept.1, there were 76.5 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, up slightly from September 2023 and up 2% from June 1. Of those, 70.4 million were market hogs and 6.04 million were kept for breeding.

Once again, U.S. hog producers are doing what they do best and that is raise pigs: From June through September, an average of 11.72 pigs were weaned per litter. The number of pigs weaned per litter continues a record trend, as it has over the last several quarters.

Though the June-to-August pig crop just over 35 million pigs is off the record of 36.4 million head in 2019, it is not far off considering the “kept for breeding” numbers come in at 6.04 million, down 2.2% from 2023.

U.S. farrowing intentions come in at 2.96 million sows farrowing between September and November, and 2.93 million sows farrowing between December 2024 and February 2025.

The big three, as in states with the largest pig inventory, remain the same: Iowa producers boast an inventory of 25.5 million head, Minnesota has 9.40 million head and North Carolina is third with 8.20 million head.

That many hogs translates into a lot of pork that needs to end up on the plates of consumers, both domestically and abroad. Any disruption in the supply chain can spell doom for the swine industry, and one such threat was thwarted when the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance Ltd. reached a tentative agreement on wages and agreed to extend the master contract until the middle of January. These two groups will continue to negotiate all other outstanding issues, but the work that had halted in early October has resumed.

In a statement from the U.S. Meat Export Federation, President and CEO Dan Halstrom says, “I want to thank all parties involved in the effort to get cargo moving again off the East and Gulf coasts. This is a tremendous relief to everyone in the U.S. meat and livestock industries, as about $100 million worth of beef and pork products are exported every week through East and Gulf Coast ports.

"Exports are a critical revenue stream at all levels of the U.S. red meat supply chain, and our industry needs all U.S. ports operating to meet the needs of our international customers and to maintain the United States’ reputation as a reliable red meat supplier,” he says.

The port strike once again reminds producers — just as the packing plant shutdowns and slowdowns brought on by COVID-19 did — that U.S. hog producers are extremely reliant on the entire supply chain to operate as efficiently as possible. Just as they aim to maximize productivity and efficiency in their barns.

About the Author

Kevin Schulz

Editor, The Farmer

Kevin Schulz joined The Farmer as editor in January of 2023, after spending two years as senior staff writer for Dakota Farmer and Nebraska Farmer magazines. Prior to joining these two magazines, he spent six years in a similar capacity with National Hog Farmer. Prior to joining National Hog Farmer, Schulz spent a long career as the editor of The Land magazine, an agricultural-rural life publication based in Mankato, Minn.

During his tenure at The Land, the publication grew from covering 55 Minnesota counties to encompassing the entire state, as well as 30 counties in northern Iowa. Covering all facets of Minnesota and Iowa agriculture, Schulz was able to stay close to his roots as a southern Minnesota farm boy raised on a corn, soybean and hog finishing farm.

One particular area where he stayed close to his roots is working with the FFA organization.

Covering the FFA programs stayed near and dear to his heart, and he has been recognized for such coverage over the years. He has received the Minnesota FFA Communicator of the Year award, was honored with the Minnesota Honorary FFA Degree in 2014 and inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame in 2018.

Schulz attended South Dakota State University, majoring in agricultural journalism. He was also a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and now belongs to its alumni organization.

His family continues to live on a southern Minnesota farm near where he grew up. He and his wife, Carol, have raised two daughters: Kristi, a 2014 University of Minnesota graduate who is married to Eric Van Otterloo and teaches at Mankato (Minn.) East High School, and Haley, a 2018 graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is married to John Peake and teaches in Hayward, Wis. 

When not covering the agriculture industry on behalf of The Farmer's readers, Schulz enjoys spending time traveling with family, making it a quest to reach all 50 states — 47 so far — and three countries. He also enjoys reading, music, photography, playing basketball, and enjoying nature and campfires with friends and family.

[email protected]

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