Hogs
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Chuck Denney
It’s becoming a rare sight in modern times - pigs on a Tennessee farm. A number of farmers have stopped hog production in recent years. There’s just not enough money in it.
John Batey
“The curves they kind of come and go, and in the hog business you’re always in at the wrong time or out at the wrong time.”
Chuck Denney
Rutherford County farmer John Batey has stayed with hog production. But says it’s a constant battle to keep costs down, especially what he has to feed his animals.
John Batey
“The market is up good now for hogs. It’s better, but it’s not comparable with the high price of corn.”
Chuck Denney
Batey sends many of his hogs out of state, and that’s how it is for a number of Tennessee pork producers. But UT swine expert Glenn Conatser says it’s difficult for small farmers to make enough of a profit margin to keep at it.
Glenn Conatser
“In Tennessee, we have about 1,000 farms that say they have at least one pig. But my estimation is we have 200 or a little less that are really an economic unit in terms of pig production.”
Chuck Denney
Conatser says nationally we have more than 60 million hogs in production, but only six million sows.
Glenn Conatser
“That number of sows is the lowest we’ve had. However, the number of pigs we have on the market is almost the most we’ve ever had for many generations. So that means the sows are more productive.”
Chuck Denney
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture reports that we’ve dropped to a modern-day low in the number of hogs and pigs - less than 190-thousand statewide. But nationally, pork prices have stabilized somewhat because now we’re not seeing so many people jump in and out of the business. Pork remains the world’s most popular meat. US exports remain high, and it’s still a hit with American consumers too. Phyllis Ferguson is with the Tn Pork Producer’s association.
Phyllis Ferguson
“Pork - the other white meat has caught on so well that it’s now expanded to pork, the other white meat - don’t be blah. Use pork for your dinnertime meals, and it’s so versatile. Our chefs who prepare pork in the restaurants enjoy using pork.”
Chuck Denney
If consumers want that demand met, someone will have to grow the product. Leaders in the pork industry say it would be nice to attract new hog farmers, but about the best we can do for now is hold on to the ones we’ve got.
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NOTE: Tennessee ranks 24th nationally in hog production. Several mid-western states lead the nation in this ag category.
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