The Minnesota Pork Board works on behalf of Minnesota pork producers who pay into the mandatory Pork Checkoff by administering state-level activities. These Pork Checkoff programs fall into three categories: research, education, promotion. Pork producers and individuals associated with entities who pay the Pork Checkoff are encouraged to take part in Pork Checkoff activities and to help determine how to invest Pork Checkoff funding.
U.S. pork producers and importers pay 40 cents per $100 of value when pigs are sold and when pigs or pork products are brought into the United States. The National Pork Board collects and distributes Pork Checkoff funds and administers Pork Checkoff programs at the national level. National Pork Board gross revenues in 2007 were $59.4 million. An annual National Pork Board financial report can be found at www.pork.org. A percentage of the annual Pork Checkoff collections return to state where the funding originated. The amount returned to Minnesota in 2007 was $1.2 million, or 17 percent of the amount collected in the state. An outside auditor annually reviews the spending of Minnesota's Pork Checkoff dollars to assure the money is used in accordance with federal law.
COUNTY PORK ASSOCIATIONS
There are several Minnesota counties with active pork producer associations. These county associations set their own annual membership fees and those fees remain with the county associations. The county association members elect their own officers. A pork producer does not need to be a county association member to take part in Minnesota Pork Board committees and activities.
Minnesota pork producers are part of a progressive and innovative industry. The men and women involved in swine production provide a nutritional protein source to domestic and international markets, and their businesses generate billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to local economies. Minnesota pork producers are nationally recognized for adopting science-based technologies to shelter, feed and care for their pigs. Modern swine facilities are designed by professional agricultural engineers who focus on animal comfort and environmental protection. Minnesota is also home to many of the nation’s leading swine veterinarians and researchers.
SECOND IN VALUE
Nationally, Minnesota ranks second in the value of hogs its farmers sell for processing into meat products such as bacon, chops, ribs and roasts. Minnesota surpassed North Carolina in market share, as measured by the value of its pig sales, in 2006, and continued to hold that position in 2007.
THIRD IN NUMBERS
Minnesota continues to rank third in hog numbers. Minnesota pork producers marketed 15 million hogs last year. Iowa and North Carolina rank first and second in hog numbers, while Illinois is fourth and Indiana is fifth.
SWINE OPERATIONS, EMPLOYMENT & ECONOMICS
Swine Operations
The Minnesota Agricultural Statistics Service recorded 4,700 Minnesota farming operations with one or more hogs in 2007. In Minnesota, 79 percent of the hogs are raised on operations that market 2,000 head or more a year. Several factors contribute to swine operations raising more pigs, including: the necessity to raise a greater number of livestock to meet family living expenses;
the adoption of technology that makes production on a larger scale possible; and the trend toward specialization in farming.
Employment
The pork industry supports 22,500 Minnesota jobs. These jobs include services for hog management and care, accountants, nutritionists, agronomists, meat processing, construction and related building fields, trucking and feed mill operations.
Economics
In 2007, Minnesota pork producers earned $2 billion in gross income from hog sales. This is the revenue received by the farmer to pay expenses. Each $1 in gross income from Minnesota pork production generates another $2.80 into the Minnesota economy, for an annual economic contribution of $7.6 billion.
TOP TEN MINNESOTA PORK PRODUCING COUNTIES
Martin
Blue Earth
Nicollet
Nobles
Brown
Mower
Jackson
Freeborn
Pipestone
Rock
These southern Minnesota counties provide pork producers several advantages when it comes to hog production, including:
Abundant corn and soybean production
Cropland to utilize the nutrients in swine manure as a soil fertilizer
Minnesota pork producers are fortunate to have two major pork processing plants within its borders: Hormel Foods, based in Austin, Minn., and Swift & Company, with operations in Worthington, Minn. In nearby Sioux Falls, S.D., John Morrell has its largest pork processing plant. Research shows that each job at the farm level in hog production creates two supporting jobs in pork processing.
GRAIN CONSUMPTION
Minnesota pigs consumed approximately 169 million bushels of corn and 60 million bushels of soybeans in 2007. Pork producers blend together a variety of feed ingredients to provide pigs a balanced diet. Corn, and sometimes barley, oats or wheat, provide dietary energy, and soybean meal provides protein. Vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and phosphorous, are also added to the rations.
SWINE MANURE AS A FERTILIZER
University of Minnesota research has shown economic and environmental benefits of using swine manure as a fertilizer. A 12-year research project found that swine fertilizer produces a yield advantage for corn crops, when compared to commercial fertilizers. This means that swine manure can help corn growers increase their profits through higher yields and reduce their cost of purchased fertilizer. A separate University of Minnesota study also highlights the environmental benefits of using swine manure. The various organic materials found in swine manure helps build and maintain soil structure, which aids in water holding capacity, improves soil aeration and reduces soil erosion.
