News

Pork producers show resiliency to industry challenges

Missouri Ag Director Chris Chinn says the state continues to be one of the top pork producing states despite a number of challenges facing the industry.

“Our rising feed costs have been a huge challenge,” she said. “Between that and rising fuel costs, those are the two largest expenses for the pork industry and our farmers trying to get their products to market.”

Chinn says labor is another concern. “It’s really hard right now to find employees,” she said. “That’s all across every industry in the state of Missouri, but it’s really hard for our farmers and ranchers in those rural communities to find labor on their farms.”

Missouri ranks sixth in US pig production. October is annually proclaimed at Pork Month in Missouri.