The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: Pork producers face longer drives and higher costs after tough years lead to packing plant closures

Kimberly Schofield and Stephanie Mosqueda
 
Larry Alliger stands in one of his finishing barns for hogs at his farm near Gowrie, Iowa. He now has to transport his hogs twice as far, since the closure of a pork processing plant in Perry, Iowa.

Larry Alliger stands in one of his finishing barns for hogs at his farm near Gowrie, Iowa. He now has to transport his hogs twice as far, since the closure of a pork processing plant in Perry, Iowa. Rachel Cramer / Iowa Public Radio

Listen (Duration: 9:13)
Download

Wednesday, July 31, 2024 

Today's headlines:

  • The Illinois State Fair is less than two weeks away with some new things to see and the return of old favorites.
  • A law signed this week in Illinois will help people in Iowa who are seeking abortions.
  • Central Illinois congressman Eric Sorensen has heavily out-raised and outspent his Republican challenger — Joe McGraw — in Sorensen's re-election bid.

In today's deep dive, we’ll learn why several large pork packers have closed plants in the U.S. and Canada in recent years and what it means for producers. 

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Alex Degman, Eric Stock and Rachel Cramer.