News

South Dakota adding more swine production

An initiative to grow the hog industry in South Dakota seems to be paying off. Growth is needed to support the state’s packing and feed milling infrastructure, according to Glenn Muller, executive director of the South Dakota Pork Producers Council.

“We’re going to add an additional about 5,000 to 5,500 head of sows and most of those pigs will also be finished in the state as well,” Muller told Brownfield Ag News, during a recent interview. “We are adding about 20,000 finishing spaces of brand new facilities to bring those hogs back into the state,” he said, referring to hogs that are currently being contract fed outside South Dakota.

The growth is the result of a long range plan the organization implemented two years ago with an objective of increasing hog numbers in the state, according to Muller.

“We want to make sure it’s responsible growth; that we’re protecting the environment and the communities that we develop in,” said Muller.

The permitting process is complete for those operations, according to Muller, and construction is underway to add at least four operations by next year.

AUDIO: Glenn Muller (2 min. MP3)