Wednesday December 24 Ag News - Hogs & Pigs Report - McClymont Friend of NC Foundation - Economic Analysis of Tyson Beef Plant Closure - Red Meat Prod -7% in Nov - ASA Calls for Balanced Drone Policy - and more!

 United States Hog Inventory Up 1 Percent 

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2025 was 75.5 million head. This was up 1 percent from December 1, 2024, and up slightly from September 1, 2025.   Breeding inventory, at 5.95 million head, was down 1 percent from last year, but up slightly from the previous quarter.  Market hog inventory, at 69.6 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, and up slightly from last quarter. 

The September-November 2025 pig crop, at 35.0 million head, was up slightly from 2024. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.93 million head, up slightly from 2024. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 49 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.93 for the September-November period, compared to 11.92 last year. 

By State Inventory (1,000 hd - % Dec 1 '24) 
Nebraska ..........:     3,650       103    
Iowa ................:    25,300      104    
Minnesota ........:     9,400       101    
North Carolina ..:     7,900        96    
Illinois ..............:      5,450       99    

Nebraska - 720,000 sows farrowed in '25, 11.99 pigs per litter, 8,634,000 pig crop (-3% '24) 
Iowa - 1.8 mil sows farrowed in '25, 11.82 pigs per litter, 21,268,000 pig crop (unch '24)

United States hog producers intend to have 2.89 million sows farrow during the December 2025-February 2026 quarter, up 2 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period one year earlier, but down 1 percent from the same period two years earlier. Intended farrowings for March-May 2026, at 2.91 million sows, are up 2 percent from the same period one year earlier, but down slightly from the same period two years earlier. 

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 52 percent of the total United States hog inventory, up 2 percent from the previous year. 



NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES PETE McCLYMONT

The Friend of the Foundation award is presented to a person or business that has shared endless amounts of time, talent, and treasure with the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation. The Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 recipient of the Friend of the Foundation award is Pete McClymont.

Pete McClymont is a native of Holdrege, Nebraska, where four generations have continuously farmed, including raising livestock in south central Nebraska since 1882. During his time working at the family farm, Pete primarily managed the feedlot along with his father and two brothers.

Pete’s passion for beef cattle production and advocating for the interests of producers led him to serve on the Nebraska Cattlemen Board of Directors, where he concluded his board service as President of the Board in 2006.

Upon concluding his service on the Board of Directors, McClymont became Vice President of Legislative Affairs for Nebraska Cattlemen in January 2007 and was later hired as Executive Vice President in July 2013.

During his time as a Nebraska Cattlemen member and staffer Pete always advocated for the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation. 2026 will mark his twentieth year participating in the Foundation’s Retail Value Steer Challenge. He often reminds people that a gift to the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation is an investment in ourselves as well as students, the individuals who will be our next leaders.

McClymont spent over twenty-five years serving Nebraska Cattlemen members and working to keep Nebraska’s beef cattle industry prosperous. After more than two decades of service to the membership of Nebraska Cattlemen, McClymont retired at the end of February 2023.

Pete McClymont has exhibited great leadership in supporting the Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation.



Nebraska Beef Council January Board Meeting

The Nebraska Beef Council Board of Directors will conduct their regular board meeting on Wednesday, January 6, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CDT at the Nebraska Beef Council office in Kearney. During the meeting, the board will have a call for candidates and USMEF market update.

For more information and a detailed agenda, please contact the Nebraska Beef Council office at 308-236-7551.



CAP Report: Economic Impacts of the Tyson Beef Plant Closure in Lexington, Nebraska
Elliott Dennis, Associate Professor, UNL Department of Agricultural Economics
Eric Thompson, Professor, UNL Department of Economics

On Friday, November 21, 2025, Tyson Foods announced it would permanently close its beef processing facility in Lexington, Nebraska, effective January 20, 2026. The company also announced it would convert its Amarillo, Texas facility to a single full-capacity shift. The Lexington plant employs roughly 3,200 people and can slaughter almost 5,000 cattle per day approximately 4.8% of total daily U.S. beef slaughter (Dennis and Smith 2025). This marks the first time one of the “Big Four” meatpacking companies has permanently closed a major plant during the current cattle supply crunch.

The estimated annual statewide economic impact of the Tyson plant closure is 3.283 billion dollars, including both direct and multiplier effects on the Nebraska economy. Total labor income losses are projected to be 530.431 million dollars per year across 7,003 jobs, which comprise the 3,212 positions directly eliminated at the plant and additional jobs that support those workers in other sectors. Although these figures represent statewide annual impacts, the direct and multiplier losses are expected to be concentrated in Dawson County and neighboring communities from which plant employees commute.

The plant closure is also expected to substantially reduce tax revenues. Annual losses in state personal income tax revenue are estimated at 23.209 million dollars. State sales tax revenues are projected to decline by 10.163 million dollars per year, and local sales tax revenues accruing to Dawson County are expected to fall by 2.771 million dollars per year.

The preceding analysis indicates that the Tyson beef processing plant closure generates substantial annual statewide economic impacts. These impacts would be larger if a greater share of cattle processed at the plant were purchased from Nebraska feedlots or if cattle accounted for a larger proportion of total plant costs. Conversely, the estimated impact would be smaller if the total value of beef sold were lower. Tax rates are based on historical tax data and may vary from year to year depending on employee deductions and other factors.



Commercial Red Meat Production Down 7 Percent from Last Year

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.26 billion pounds in November, down 7 percent from the 4.56 billion pounds produced in November 2024.

Beef production, at 2.02 billion pounds, was 9 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.27 million head, down 11 percent from November 2024. The average live weight was up 32 pounds from the previous year, at 1,457 pounds.

Veal production totaled 1.8 million pounds, 40 percent below November a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 9,000 head, down 42 percent from November 2024. The average live weight was up 16 pounds from last year, at 354 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.23 billion pounds, down 4 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.3 million head, down 5 percent from November 2024. The average live weight was up 3 pounds from the previous year, at 292 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 9.8 million pounds, was down 6 percent from November 2024. Sheep slaughter totaled 175,100 head, 1 percent above last year. The average live weight was 110 pounds, down 8 pounds from November a year ago.

By State           (million lbs.  -  % Nov '24)
Nebraska ........:     626.0             92       
Iowa ..............:      724.1             94       
Kansas ...........:      423.9             90       

January to November 2025 commercial red meat production was 48.9 billion pounds, down 3 percent from 2024. Accumulated beef production was down 4 percent from last year, veal was down 39 percent, pork was down 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up slightly. 



Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Annual Conference in Des Moines

Practical Farmers of Iowa invites farmers, landowners and friends of farmers to register for the PFI 2026 Annual Conference, happening Jan. 9–10 at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines. The two-day, farmer-led event offers learning and connection for anyone involved in or interested in agriculture.

“This conference really showcases Iowa agriculture at its best. With over 70 sessions, you’ll hear directly from the people doing the work – the farmers,” says Liz Kolbe, PFI’s senior farmer-led education director. “Whether you’re a farmer, work with farmers or just care about where your food comes from, there’s something for you.”

Since PFI’s founding, the annual conference has been a keystone event for thousands of farmers to exchange creative ideas, build connections and celebrate Iowa agriculture.

Conference highlights include:
    A Saturday keynote by Amber Lambke, co-founder and CEO of Maine Grains, Inc. She’ll discuss how revitalizing Maine’s local grain economy has driven economic development at the grassroots level and strengthened community resilience and self-sufficiency.
    More than 70 sessions covering conventional and organic crops, small grains, cover crops, livestock, fruit and vegetable production, on-farm habitat, landowner resources, farmland access, farm business basics and more.
    An evening of storytelling by PFI farmers sharing skillfully narrated true stories.
    Presentation of PFI’s 2026 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award.
    Four optional pre-conference short courses (Thursday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m.–5:15 p.m.):
        “Wholesale-Ready: Preparing Your Farm and Evaluating Opportunities”
        “Field Crops Research Highlights”
        “Poultry Pathways: The Business of Raising Birds for Meat and Eggs”
        “Farm Transition: Taxes and Estate Planning”

To register or learn more, visit practicalfarmers.org/conference. For questions, please call 515-232-5661.

Practical Farmers of Iowa’s 2026 Annual Conference is supported by several major sponsors, including Albert Lea Seed House; Choose Iowa | Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship; Grain Millers Inc.; John Deere; Krause Group; Mad Capital; Niman Ranch; Peoples Company; and Sunderman Farm Management Co.



USDA Cold Storage November 2025 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on November 30, 2025 were up 1 percent from the previous month but down 5 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 3 percent from the previous month but down 3 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 1 percent from the previous month and down 5 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 36 percent from last month but down 7 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on November 30, 2025 were down 10 percent from the previous month and down 4 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up slightly from the previous month and up 1 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were down 41 percent from last month and down 21 percent from November 30, 2024.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on November 30, 2025 were down 1 percent from the previous month but up 2 percent from November 30, 2024. Butter stocks were down 8 percent from last month and down 1 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on November 30, 2025 were up 4 percent from last month but down 7 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 3 percent from last month and down 8 percent from a year ago.



ASA Urges Balance on Agricultural Drone Policy

The American Soybean Association is closely monitoring recent federal actions related to restrictions on certain foreign-manufactured drones used in U.S. agriculture and the potential impacts on farmers. Precision agriculture tools, including drones, are essential for today’s farmers to manage costs, monitor crops, and operate efficiently. Foreign-manufactured drones represent a significant majority of the agricultural drone market, and sudden restrictions on their use without available domestically manufactured alternatives risk adding new financial and operational burdens for farmers already facing tight margins and market uncertainty.

“Soybean farmers depend on modern technology to stay competitive, efficient, and sustainable,” said Scott Metzger, president of ASA and Ohio farmer. “While we recognize the importance of addressing national security concerns, it’s critical that policymakers fully consider the real-world impacts these decisions can have on farmers who rely on these tools every day. Taking proven technology out of farmers’ toolboxes without workable alternatives only adds cost and uncertainty at a time when farmers can least afford it.”

ASA has consistently supported policies that protect farmers’ access to reliable technology, broadband connectivity, GPS systems, and spectrum resources critical to modern agriculture. We urge policymakers and federal agencies to work with agriculture stakeholders to address security concerns while preserving farmers’ access to essential tools.