Hog Farmers Taking A Hit

University of Missouri Extension Economist Ron Plain said the hog industry took an immense hit from formerly named “swine flu”, now named the H1N1 virus, and that it could get even worse, Brownfield reports.

“We’re looking at losses over the next four months of $400 million and this is a time now when they can’t afford it,” said Plain. “The typical producer has lost money 16 out of the last 18 months. Normally this time of year prices tend to move higher and there’s typically less pork on the market, but we’re going the other way fast right now.”