Mississippi
The Mississippi Pork Industry
The Mississippi pork industry adds significant value to the agricultural economy and is a major contributor to the overall Mississippi economy. Although the size and structure of the Mississippi pork industry has changed over time, current levels of production continue to support jobs and generate earnings in the state economy. In 2023, the sales generated from hog marketings and pork processing supported a total economic contribution of over $46.98 million in personal income, over $67.9 million in value added, and more than 977 jobs in the Mississippi economy.
Total Economic Contribution
All direct, indirect, and induced economic activity supported by the Mississippi Pork Industry.
977
jobs supported by the pork industry
$67.9M+
value added (GDP)
$46.9M+
personal income generated
Hog Farms and Production
There are about 180,000 hogs in Mississippi. The size of the Mississippi hog herd has varied over time but has trended downward from 315,000 head in 2000 to 180,000 head in 2023. As of December 2023, Mississippi farms accounted for 0.2% of the total U.S. hog inventory.
The number of Mississippi hog farms has increased in recent years. From 1997 to 2012, the number of farms raising hogs decreased from 1,477 to 540, but by 2022 farm numbers increased to 709.
Approximately 84% of Mississippi hogs are on farms with 5,000 or more in inventory. 11 percent of Mississippi’s hogs are on farms with 2,000 to 4,999 head, and four percent are on farms with less than 2,000 head.
Hog Production Costs and Returns
In 2023, hog sales (including market hogs, sows, and feeder pigs) totaled $307.7 million. In addition to these farm-level effects, the pork industry supports other industries by purchasing inputs, supplies, and services. Based on long-run prices and aggregated production budgets for the Mississippi pork industry, producing 455,717 market hogs in Mississippi generates over $43.29 million in feed, labor, equipment, and other production-related expenditures.
Hog Production by the Numbers
709
number of farms with hogs
455,717
hogs marketed annually
$45.89M
cash receipts from hog sales
Feed is the largest single expenditure category in pork production. With 455,717 market hogs produced annually, feed costs for the Mississippi industry exceed $19.54M. Other direct expenses, like energy and transportation, add over $11.6M, employee compensation totals over $6.0M, and facility-related expenses add over $6.11M.
Jobs Supported by the Mississippi Pork Industry
The direct, indirect, and induced activity generated by the Mississippi pork industry in 2023 supported a total of 977 jobs and over $46.98M in personal income. Mississippi hog farms and pork processors directly employed 527 workers and paid over $25.29 million in total wages. This includes 84 full-time-equivalent workers at the farm level and an estimated 428 employees in the hog slaughter and processing sectors.
The purchases of input supplies and services in the pork industry indirectly supported 283 jobs and over $14.52 million in personal earnings for Mississippi workers. Beyond this, the induced impacts stemming from employee spending included 167 additional jobs and over $7.18 million in personal income earned. Many of these jobs were within the agriculture and manufacturing industries, as well as industries like trucking, finance, insurance, real estate, trade, and other service sectors.