The “crisis” in this headline refers to a COVID-era warning about U.S. hog farms in April 2020—not a current market report. The disruption described then was concentrated on farms and at processing plants: falling hog prices and slower processing left animals backing up, while the article said pork remained available in grocery stores.
What the 2020 crisis meant for hog farmers
In Chuck Abbott’s April 15, 2020, report for Successful Farming, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) president and Wisconsin producer Howard Roth said hog prices had fallen and producers were losing money per animal. COVID-related processing-plant closures and slowdowns, together with reduced food-service demand, contributed to animals accumulating on farms.
NPPC counsel Nick Giordano described the mismatch this way: “The crisis today is on the farm, not at the grocery store.” Roth said, “We are in a crisis and need immediate government intervention.” Both quotations were reported in 2020 and reflect the industry’s advocacy and market conditions at that time.
Why pigs were backing up on farms
Hogs ready for market depend on processing plants to turn them into meat. When plants slowed or closed, fewer animals could be processed on schedule. At the same time, lower prices and weaker food-service demand weighed on producers. The result described in the article was a farm-level bottleneck, not proof that grocery stores had run out of pork.
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Abbott reported that pork remained available in stores. USDA figures cited in the article showed February 2020 frozen pork supplies were 7% larger than a year earlier, while pork bellies were 38% larger. Those inventory comparisons are specific to February 2020; they do not describe present-day retail supply.
The figures and forecasts reported in 2020
The article assembled several period-specific figures. They were reported by Successful Farming as USDA data or estimates from named economists, not as current statistics.
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| Measure | What the 2020 article reported | Attribution and context |
|---|---|---|
| Slaughter pigs on U.S. farms | 71.3 million | USDA figure reported by Successful Farming for that time of year in 2020. |
| Slaughter capacity still available | 93% | Estimate by Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes, as reported in 2020. |
| Projected losses on hogs sold for the rest of 2020 | $37 per head; $5 billion total | Estimate by Hayes and Steve Meyer. The article contrasted it with an expected $10-per-head profit before the pandemic. |
| Forecast per-capita meat consumption | 226.7 pounds for 2020 | USDA forecast reported in the article; this was total meat, not pork alone. |
These numbers describe estimates, inventories, or forecasts tied to the 2020 pandemic disruption. They should not be used to infer current hog prices, current farm losses, or what an individual producer earned. The article reported figures attributed to USDA and economists; those underlying datasets and estimation methods are not independently established here.
What government support the industry requested
The NPPC asked for more than $1 billion in government purchases and direct payments to producers. Abbott’s report also noted that payment-eligibility language could include meatpackers. The request documents what the group sought; it does not show that the proposed relief was adopted or that every producer received assistance.
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How the market picture differs in September 2026
USDA’s Economic Research Service Hogs & Pork outlook, updated September 18, 2026, describes a different market moment. USDA said sluggish pork demand led it to make a small reduction to its third-quarter production estimate, to 6.6 billion pounds—still slightly above the same period in 2025. It also reduced quarterly export forecasts for 2026 and 2027, citing stronger competition and softer demand in important foreign markets.
This is broad industry context, not a measure of individual farm profitability or conditions in every region. Producers looking at their own finances need current information relevant to their location, operation, and costs; national production and export outlooks cannot substitute for farm-specific margins.
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How to read the headline today
- Date it: The headline refers to a Successful Farming report published April 15, 2020.
- Locate the disruption: The article described pressure at farms and processing plants, while reporting pork available at retail.
- Keep the numbers in their period: Its price, loss, inventory, and consumption figures were tied to 2020 data or forecasts.
- Use current outlooks for current context: USDA’s September 2026 outlook offers industry-level production and export forecasts, not farm-by-farm results.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
