The Iowa Pork Industry 2003: Patterns and Economic Importance

The pork industry of Iowa represents a major value-added activity in the agricultural economy and a major contributor to the overall Iowa economy. The $2.46 billion of gross receipts from hog marketings in 2002 represent only a portion of the economic activity supported by the industry. Although the hog industry in Iowa has undergone rapid structural changes in recent years, total hog numbers have increased from a decade ago. About 65,000 Iowa residents are involved in various aspects of the industry ranging from input suppliers to producers, to processors and handlers as well as mainstreet businesses that benefit from purchases by people in these industries. Overall an estimated $2.02 billion of personal income and $3.02 billion of gross state product are supported by the hog industry based on 2002 levels of production.