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Iowa's hog population reaches 51-year high

DES MOINES - Iowa has 16.9 million hogs -- its highest number in 51 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA released a report Friday showing Iowa's hog population in September has increased about 2 percent from a year ago and more than 2percent from June 1.

Iowa hasn't had this many pigs since September 1955, when it had 17.2 million. The latest hog count is Iowa's third largest since estimates began in 1866.

Nationally there are 62.7 million hogs -- a 1 percent increase from last year, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Iowa hog producers appear headed for a record number of consecutive months of profit. January 2004 was the last month Iowa hog producers lost money, according to statistics from the Iowa State University Extension. Analysts predict hog operations to stay profitable at least through June 2007, which would set the record.

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Source: Sioux City Journal

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