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Minnesota farrow to finish hog producer watches sow values drop

A pork producer has seen the value of his sows plummet during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Paul Sobocinski farms near Wabasso in southwest Minnesota.

“I have a farrow to finish hog operation, so sows that I’m looking at selling (are) worth nothing. A sow that should be worth $130 to $150 might be only worth $20 to $30, if you can find a buyer for them.”

He tells Brownfield his butcher hogs have not been impacted the same way as many integrated hog operations have been.

“I happen to be in a specialty market with Niman Ranch, and we (market) into a smaller plant. So it hasn’t impacted us the same way because our system is a little bit more diverse.”

Sobocinski says he has had to hold back some hogs, but not to the degree of contract feeders who market to larger processors.