Pork producers experience a mixed bag in 2024, while cattle producers see record highs

The beginning of 2024 proved to be tough for pork producers, but thankfully as the year comes to a close the tide is changing.

“It has been a very diverse year. When you look back at the start of the year, our farms were losing money through one of the longest stretches of unprofitably. And as we do end up this year, we do have some profitability back in our market,” Lori Stevemer said. “Things are looking good for the first part of 2025.”

Lori Stevermer and her husband raise pigs near Eastin, Minnesota. She is currently serving as the National Pork Producers Council president. One of her main concerns for the industry is the labor shortages that are being seen in pork operations around the country, as they need year-round workers, not just seasonal. Some workers have come under TN visas, which are temporary visas for professionals from Canada and Mexico allowed under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement.

“A lot of our farms use TN labor. There's been an increase in the denials of those TNs. So that's put a strain on some of our farms. People often talk about a H-2a visa, but that's just seasonal. And our farms are needing, you know, workers year round for those pigs. So, you know, we've asked for reform on those H-2A visas to make those a year round situation, year round visa,” she said.