Prevalent Regions for Beef and Hog Production in the United States

Beef Production

• The Midwest and Great Plains are the dominant regions for beef production in the United States. States such as Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Montana, Missouri, and Florida have some of the largest beef cow populations.
• Nebraska, in particular, is notable, with Cherry County being the top beef cow county in the nation, followed by other Nebraska counties like Holt and Lincoln. Texas, the state with the most beef cows overall, also has several top-producing counties, along with Oklahoma and South Dakota

• The Midwest, often referred to as "the breadbasket of America," has a long-standing tradition of beef (and pork) production, supported by its grain output and suitable grazing land

Hog Production

• Hog production is most prevalent in the Midwest, specifically in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Nebraska. Iowa is by far the leading state, producing over 14 billion pounds of pork annually

• North Carolina is a major producer in the Southeast, though its growth has been limited by environmental regulations in recent decades

• Collectively, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska form the largest hog processing region in the country, processing more than 40% of all U.S. hogs

• The Heartland and Southeast regions together account for about three-quarters of U.S. feeder pig-to-finish hog production, but the Heartland (Midwest) has seen its share increase in recent years due to larger farm sizes and industry consolidation

Summary Table

Region/State| Beef Production Prevalence| Hog Production Prevalence
---|---|---
Midwest (Heartland)| Very high| Very high
Great Plains| Very high| High
Southeast| Moderate| Moderate (notably NC)
Texas| Highest by state| Moderate
Nebraska| Top counties, very high| High
Iowa| High| Highest by state
North Carolina| Low-Moderate| High (Southeast leader)

Key Takeaway:
Beef production is most prevalent in the Midwest and Great Plains (notably Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota), while hog production is concentrated in the Midwest, especially Iowa, with significant contributions from Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, and North Carolina