Pork production has about a $1 billion impact on Missouri’s economy. That’s according to Missouri Pork Association Executive Vice President Don Nikodim.

(photo courtesy; the University of Missouri College of Agriculture)

Missouri’s pork producers bring home the bacon (photo courtesy; the University of Missouri College of Agriculture)

“We rank 7th nationally in pork production here in Missouri. That equates to about 6% of the total pork production in the United States,” says Nikodim.

About 25,000 Missouri jobs are tied to the pork industry and roughly 2.85 million hogs and pigs are raised in the state.

“For the last two or three years, we have exported roughly 25% of all the pork that’s produced in the country. That has huge impacts on our bottom line,” says Nikodim.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, also referred to as TPP, would reduce or end tariffs on many services and goods like poultry, beef and soybeans.

“Things like the Trans-Pacific Partnership that’s pending in Congress are ultimately very important to our sector of agriculture. It impacts everybody in a very positive manner, but pork industry will really capitalize on TPP,” says Nikodim.

Critics of the 12-nation agreement are concerned about things like drug patent enforcement and the effects on the environment.

On behalf of Governor Jay Nixon (D), Deputy Director of Agriculture Loyd Wilson has proclaimed October Pork Month in Missouri.