Minnesota Now the No. 2 U.S. Hog State

July 2, 2014 — 

Minnesota has just surpassed North Carolina to become the nation's No. 2 hog-and-pig state, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday. [Source: PioneerPress, 6/27/14]

According to the Hog and Pig Inventory taken June 1, Iowa still easily claims the No. 1 spot, with 19.2 million hogs and pigs. But Minnesota has inched past North Carolina, with 7.75 million hogs and pigs.

"This marks the first time Minnesota has had the second largest inventory in the U.S. since records began," USDA's Minnesota office reported.

The new ranking was due more to North Carolina's losses rather than Minnesota's gains. North Carolina has 13 percent fewer hogs and pigs than it did a year ago, in part due to outbreaks of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, which kills young pigs.

Minnesota producers have been affected by the PED virus, too, but the losses have been less severe. Minnesota's hog and pig numbers are up 1 percent from March but down 1 percent from last June, USDA said.