Why Hog Farmers Are Winning in 2026

Welcome back to Barn Talk! In today’s episode, hosts Tork and Sawyer sit down for another candid, insightful conversation, this time with David Newman, a true leader in the U.S. pork industry and the current CEO of the National Pork Board. From his roots as a fourth-generation pig farmer to guiding national marketing strategies on behalf of 60,000 pork producers, David Newman brings a unique perspective straddling both boots-on-the-ground agriculture and big-picture industry leadership. Together, they dig into the major shifts that pork producers have seen in the last year, from resilient domestic demand and record-setting exports, to the evolving challenges around labor, health, and new opportunities in international markets. Listen in as David Newman shares his personal backstory—growing up on a diversified family farm, weathering years of ups and downs, and the grit it takes to innovate and adapt in modern agriculture. Plus, the trio explores the future of pork: innovations in product cuts, shifting consumer tastes, and how pork’s affordability and versatility are creating the biggest opportunities in decades for producers at every scale. If you've ever wondered what it takes to transition from farm life to high-level leadership, how small-town innovation can change an entire industry, or what the future holds for one of America’s cornerstone proteins, this episode is for you. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ➱ https://bit.ly/3a7r3nR   SUBSCRIBE TO THIS’LL DO FARM ➱ https://bit.ly/2X8g45c  LISTEN ON: SPOTIFY ➱ https://open.spotify.com/show/3icVr4KWq4eUDl7Oy60YMY  APPLE ➱ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/barn-talk/id1574395049 Follow Behind The Scenes👇🏻 ● This’ll Do Farm Instagram ➱ https://bit.ly/30KPBNk   ● Barn Talk TikTok ➱ https://bit.ly/3qciekS   ● Sawyer’s Instagram  ➱ https://bit.ly/3BtX0n4   ● Tork’s Instagram ➱ https://bit.ly/3LGZJxS    00:00 "Support and Share Barn Talk" 09:15 "Pork: The Time Is Now" 15:25 "Pork Board's Strategic Success" 16:33 "Boosting Pork Demand Together" 21:47 "Pork Campaign Targets Hispanics" 28:58 "Life in the Hog Business" 33:33 Rise and Shift of Hog Farming 39:47 "Lessons, Tenacity, and Opportunity" 44:08 Agricultural Financing and Risk Management 51:07 Workaholic Leader Shares Leadership Insight 57:16 PRRS: A Growing Swine Challenge 01:04:18 Future of Labor in Food Industry 01:10:34 Global Agriculture Shifts and Pricing 01:13:24 Global Protein Demand and Emerging Markets 01:17:13 Brazil's Pork Export Expansion 01:22:19 Global Pork Industry Insights 01:32:34 "Legacy of Patrick Fleming" 01:34:21 "Busyness, Strategy, and Vision" ------------------------------- ⚠NO FINANCIAL ADVICE / DISCLAIMER⚠  The Information discussed and shared on Barn Talk is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, or success for any particular purpose. The Information contained in or provided from or through this podcast is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, trading advice, or any other advice. The Information on this podcast and provided from or through our content is general in nature and is not specific to you, the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented on this podcast without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional, professional broker or financial advisory. Understand that you are using any and all Information available on or throug... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices