By Scout Nelson
In some southern Minnesota counties, hogs outnumber humans by a staggering 40 to 1. Minnesota, the nation’s second-largest hog producer, generated over $3.5 billion in sales in 2022, with most production concentrated in the southern region along the Iowa border. Only Iowa raises and slaughters more hogs than Minnesota.
Environmental group Food and Water Watch released maps showing the high concentration of livestock in southern Minnesota, highlighting the region’s environmental challenges. The state also has pockets of beef cattle in the southwest and large dairies in the central and southeast areas.
Large livestock operations, known as “factory farms,” by activists and “concentrated animal feeding operations” by regulators, are highly efficient but pose environmental risks. Manure from these operations is often used as fertilizer, which can wash into water supplies, especially during extreme weather events like floods.
In June, flooding in southern Minnesota caused at least 17 manure pits to overflow, leading to significant environmental damage.
Tracking large livestock operations is difficult because federal data is limited. Only about one-third of these farms have federal permits, and state regulations vary. Advocacy groups like Food and Water Watch create their own databases by compiling data from various sources, including the USDA, state, and county records.
According to the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, 35 of Minnesota’s 87 counties rank in the top quartile nationwide for hog density. In Nobles County, home to a large JBS pork processing plant, there are over 690 hogs per square mile. In Rock County, 88 farms produce nearly 400,000 hogs annually.
As Minnesota continues to lead in hog production, the environmental impact of these densely concentrated operations remains a critical issue for the region.
Photo Credit:istock-srdjan-stepic
Categories: Minnesota, General, Weather