Illinois pork farmers are reporting a 2 percent increase in the number of hogs and pigs on farms in the first quarter of 2017, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
As of March 1, the number of hog and pigs on farms in Illinois totaled 5.25 million. As pork producers in the state raise more hogs and pigs, demand will catch up, Jenny Jackson with the Illinois Pork Producers Associations said.
“The pig numbers are up in Illinois and we don’t see that as a bad thing happening,” Jackson said. “A robust export demand will be critical in helping absorb the supply.”
Illinois is fourth in the nation for pork production and the industry contributes $1.8 billion annually to the state’s economy.
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