NASS representatives will contact nearly 13,000 pork producers in 49 states during the first two weeks of December. They want to information about market hogs, breeding stock inventories and farrowing intentions.

All surveys are confidential and only state-and-national-level data will be released to ensure no individual operation or producer can be identified. Survey results for pork producers will be published in the December “Hogs and Pigs” survey.

The information gleaned from the surveys is critical for decisions made by the livestock industry and will provide some insight into future market trends.

“It helps producers make informed marketing decisions and plan for herd expansion or reduction,” said Herman Ellison, director of the Virginia Field Office of USDA’s NASS. “It also helps packers and government evaluate expected slaughter volume for future months and determine potential supplies for export.”