Renewed optimism in MO pork industry

The executive director of Missouri Pork says the New Year is bringing renewed optimism for pork producers.

“Producers need time to heal before any expansion happens.”

Scott Hays says the bounce-back in prices has been welcome. But the lack of profitability in the recent years has resulted in some farmers have left the hog business.

“Some were larger farms and others were sold to another farms. There are still farms for sale and when there are times like this, people retire.”

He says efficiency in hog production continues to improve.

“There maybe a few less pigs. I don’t think numbers will change a lot. Nationwide, the industry shrank the sow herd about 3% in the last two years, but we’re producing the same amount of pigs.”