There is no doubt that hog producers have experienced historically bad margins in 2023, but projections show slowly improving conditions through 2024 and into 2025, according to Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Ag Economist Lee Schulz.

“This year will go down as the worst year ever financially in pork production,” Schulz said at the start of his recent price outlook. “Right now, it’s the cost of production that’s really eroding profitability in the hog market.”

Schulz pointed out that since 2020, for...