Kansas Pork Association

In 1956, a small group of pork producers held the first meeting of the Kansas Swine Improvement Association. Their purpose was to work together to make their business more profitable while keeping the swine industry healthy and flourishing statewide. The Kansas Pork Association is working every day to achieve this same goal.

Kansas pork producers help feed the world

1. There are 1,500 hog farms in Kansas. Of these operations, 310 produce over 95% of the state’s pork.
2. Kansas is the number 10 state in hog and pig inventory producing about 2.80 percent of the nation’s total.
3. In 2008, Kansas producers sold 3,274,255 market hogs, feeder pigs and seedstock with a gross market value of $405,744,268. These hogs produced over 500,000,000 pounds of The Other White Meat® which helps feed millions of people in the U.S. and abroad through exports.

Pork industry important to Kansas economy

Kansas pork operations consume over 30 million bushels of grain. Primarily, these operations utilize Kansas-grown milo and corn. At January 2009 prices, the pork industry will spend over $105,000,000 on milo and corn this year.

Kansas pork operations also consume the equivalent of over eight million bushels of soybeans through soybean products. At January 2009 prices, the pork industry will spend over $70,000,000 on soybean meal this year.

Kansas pork producers support suppliers of goods and services to their businesses. A short list of vendors include:

• Feed suppliers - grain and nutritional supplements.
• Construction - includes new building and maintenance.
• Labor - as with any business, growth means increased labor needs.
• Supplies - pork producers utilize mainstreet businesses for a vast array of items ranging from veterinary supplies to office supplies.
• Equipment - pork producers utilize specialty equipment for many tasks including nutrient management.
• Utilities - gas, propane and electric.
• Trucking - producers utilize trucking to bring grain to the farm as well as hauling hogs to market.
• Services - pork producers utilize many services along mainstreet including financial, medical, accounting, legal, engineering, and veterinary.

Did you know?

In the late 1890’s, Kansas producers had well over twice the number of hogs in their inventory as they do today.

Environmental Stewardship

Nearly 900 pork producers have complied with KDHE’s state-mandated requirements for the size of their operation. This includes: over 100 producers with NPDES permits, over 600 producers with state permits and over 100 producers with state certifications.

For decades, KDHE has required pork producers to control enough land to sustainably utilize the nutrients generated by the operation.

Pork producers with over 1,000 Animal Units are now required to submit a Nutrient Utilization Plan showing the fields where plant food will be applied. Manure is applied only after soil tests, manure analysis and cropping practices are approved by the state.

For more information on pork production and the environment, see an environmental overview in this section or for more in-depth information on the state's regulations, see environment in the Producer Section.