Study shows pork industry vital to Iowa’s economy

Iowa’s pig farmers are a vital component of the state’s economy, as shown by a new study released by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. The data verifies Iowa’s status as the No. 1 pork producing state in the nation, providing 33% of the U.S. hog inventory and creating more than 120,000 jobs.

Iowa’s 5,172 pig farms help create more than 64,000 jobs in the state from hog production, more than 39,000 from hog slaughter and more than 16,000 from hog processing, totaling 120,231 jobs. The pork industry contributed $15.4 billion in value added to Iowa’s economy in 2024.