The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service announced on March 26 that the number of hogs and pigs on American farms reached 74.3 million as of March 1, a slight increase from the previous year but a decrease of one percent compared to December 2025.
This update provides important information for farmers, businesses, and policymakers who monitor trends in livestock production. The report is used to guide decisions about farming operations and supply chain planning.
Of the total inventory, there were 68.4 million market hogs and nearly 5.9 million kept for breeding purposes. Between December 2025 and February 2026, U.S. farms weaned approximately 33.2 million pigs—an increase of one percent over the same period last year—with an average litter size of nearly twelve piglets per sow.
Looking ahead, producers plan to have about 2.86 million sows farrow between March and May this year and another 2.90 million sows farrow from June through August. Iowa led all states with an inventory of about 24.7 million head, followed by Minnesota at just over nine million head and North Carolina at around seven point six million head.
To collect these figures, NASS surveyed more than four thousand operators across the country during early March using online submissions, mail-in responses, telephone calls, and face-to-face interviews.
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according to the press release, Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said: “These grant programs provide opportunities for communities and businesses to develop innovative uses and markets for wood, a renewable and economic resource. Previous Wood Innovations Grants are making a difference across the country, and we are pleased to continue supporting wood use ingenuity that helps our communities and forests.”
All NASS reports can be found online at nass.usda.gov.
