Well, it finally took me 10 years to get this started, but when you get the opportunity to take a break from Cruisin’ around you can pull over here to the Rest Area and check out some of the items we talk about every afternoon. I hope to share some of the lists and polls, as well as any local items of interest. There will be photos and a wealth of fun things to check out. Soon, there will also be a way for you to send me your photos and neat things to share, plus comment on the day’s program. This will be a fun space to gather as friends, and I can’t wait to see where this takes us! Please stop by regularly, and I hope you will enjoy your visit.
First and foremost, it’s October, and we start celebrating Pork Month – an almost sacred time in our beautiful state to celebrate what makes Iowa the best of the best!
Don’t take my word for it – Look at the facts from the Iowa Pork Producer’s Association:
On the Farm
- Iowa is the No. 1 pork-producing state in the U.S., and the top state for pork exports.
- Nearly one-third of the nation’s hogs are raised in Iowa.
- Iowa has more than 5,400 pig farms.
- There are pig farmers in every Iowa county. The top five Iowa counties for pig production are Washington, Sioux, Lyon, Hamilton and Plymouth.
- Iowa producers marketed almost 48 million hogs in 2018.
- At any one time, there are approximately 24 million pigs being raised in Iowa.
The Economic Contribution
- As of 2019, 147,105 jobs were associated with the Iowa pork industry.
- One in nearly 10 working Iowans has a job tied to the pork industry.
- Exports of pork from Iowa totaled more than $2.1 billion in 2018.
- In 2019, Japan, Mexico, China, Canada, and South Korea were the leading value export markets for Iowa pork. The largest export markets by volume were Mexico, China, Japan, Canada and South Korea.*
- Hog production contributed $13.1 billion to the state economy in 2015.
- The pork industry contributed $40.8 billion in sales in 2019.
- Pork slaughtering and processing facilities generated 66% of the sales, hog production generates 34% of sales.
- From wean to 270 lbs., a pig eats approximately 12 bu. of corn and 2.5 bu. of soybeans.
- During the year, Iowa pigs will eat corn from 22% of Iowa corn acres and 23% of Iowa soybean acres.
Now THAT is impressive! Be sure to stock up on pork this October and year around to support our area farmers, and thank you Iowa pork producers for all of your work and dedication as you feed the world!
To celebrate the start of Pork Month, I made sure to cook up a nice rack of St. Louis ribs on Sunday. It was awesome, and the left-overs are absolutely awesome!
Remember to stop by the rest area on a regular basis to see what’s new, and always stay tuned to Cruisin 1250 am and 105.1 fm.
