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Hog health issues can threaten profitability for Missouri pork industry

The executive director of the Missouri Pork Association says hog health is top-of-mind for Missouri’s farmers.

Scott Hays says there’s been a higher rate of diseases like Porcine epidemic diarrhea in hogs this year.

“It’s a challenge because you’ll lose three to four weeks of production with the disease, which is a pretty big financial hit,” he says. “And for some reason, it’s a little worse nationwide than normal.”

Hays says viruses like Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome are becoming more costly to control, and many Missouri producers dealt with it in 2025.

“This year, it doesn’t seem to be near as bad, but we’re at the time of the year where it can flare up on us, especially if we have cool days where it’s damp.”

The National Pork Board hosted a session looking at the National Swine Health Strategy at the Missouri Pork Expo. Hays says he’s looking forward to seeing the final strategy, and working together to reduce hog health risks can help the U.S. pork industry become more competitive globally.