AgLetter: April 1998
Large gains in pork production since last fall are weighing
heavy on hog prices and causing losses among most
hog farmers. And based on the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s most recent Hogs and Pigs report, that
trend is likely to continue into next year. The report
noted that the number of hogs and pigs on U.S. farms
as of March 1 was up nearly 8 percent from a year earlier.
On a somewhat more positive note for producers,
however, the report suggested that the rate of expansion
is slowing. Reflecting this, the inventory of hogs held for
breeding purposes was reported to be up only 2 percent.
