Montana
The Montana Pork Industry
The Montana pork industry adds significant value to the agricultural economy and is a major contributor to the overall Montana economy. Although the size and structure of the Montana 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 $49.22 million in personal income, over $92.57 million in value added, and more than 1,000 jobs in the Montana economy.
Total Economic Contribution
All direct, indirect, and induced economic activity supported by the Montana Pork Industry.
1,000
jobs supported by the pork industry
$92.5M+
value added (GDP)
$49.2M+
personal income generated
Hog Farms and Production
There are about 240,000 hogs in Montana. The size of the Montana hog herd has varied over time but has trended upward from 155,000 head in 2000 to 240,000 head in 2023. As of December 2023, Montana farms accounted for 0.3% of the total U.S. hog inventory.
The number of Montana hog farms has decreased in recent years. From 1997 to 2012, the number of farms raising hogs decreased from 708 to 406, but by 2022 farm numbers increased to 347.
Approximately 74% of Montana hogs are on farms with 5,000 or more in inventory. 22 percent of Montana’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 $324,63 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 Montana pork industry, producing over 556 thousand market hogs in Montana generates over $54.67 million in feed, labor, equipment, and other production-related expenditures.
Hog Production by the Numbers
347
number of farms with hogs
556K+
hogs marketed annually
$109.83M+
cash receipts from hog sales
Feed is the largest single expenditure category in pork production. With over 556,655 market hogs produced annually, feed costs for the Montana industry exceed $24.89M. Other direct expenses, like energy and transportation, add over $14.56M, employee compensation totals over $7.49M, and facility-related expenses add over $7.72M.
Jobs Supported by the Montana Pork Industry
The direct, indirect, and induced activity generated by the Montana pork industry in 2023 supported a total of 1,000 jobs and over $49.22 million in personal income. Montana hog farms and pork processors directly employed 412 workers and paid over $20.21 million in total wages. This includes 106 full-time-equivalent workers at the farm level and an estimated 289 employees in the hog slaughter and processing sectors.
The purchases of input supplies and services in the pork industry indirectly supported 405 jobs and over $19.45 million in personal earnings for Montana workers. Beyond this, the induced impacts stemming from employee spending included 183 additional jobs and over $9.55 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.