Pork producers are calling for government assistance with disposing of what’s anticipated to be about 750,000 hog carcasses. The Illinois Pork Producers Association sent a letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker this week that asks for disaster declarations and measures to dispose of the anticipated volume of hog carcasses. With pork processors closing and slowing down operations if they are open, the pork industry is in crisis mode. Several hog farmers have had to turn to euthanize livestock as animals back up, with more anticipated in the coming months. Rep. Dan Swanson, the only hog farmer seated in the General Assembly, is endorsing the IPPA’s request, along with the entire Illinois House Agriculture & Conservation Committee. Illinois is the #4 state in the U.S. for pork production and provides almost $14 billion to the state economy.
