Profitability drives conversations at World Pork Expo

June 11, 2026 | Kriss Nelson

From market volatility and feed costs to soybean meal research and profitability tools, conversations at World Pork Expo reflected many of the challenges and opportunities facing pork producers today.

As thousands of producers, industry representatives and agricultural leaders gathered at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines last week, a common theme emerged: profitability remains top of mind.

For Noah Hahn, a pork producer and soybean farmer from Keota, even small market swings can have a significant impact on the bottom line.

"Volatility in the markets has been a big thing," Hahn says. "As we get bigger with our farm business, a 5- or 10-cent change in the hog market, a 50-cent move in soybeans or a 20-cent move in corn can change profitability by hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Hahn farms with his father and sister in a farrow-to-finish operation that includes approximately 400 sows and row crops. Like many livestock producers, he closely monitors feed costs and ingredient prices.

Soy’s role

Soybean meal remains a key component of swine diets, but Hahn says feeding decisions ultimately come down to economics.

"It has to make financial sense," he says. "You look at the price of soybean meal, protein content and digestibility. At the end of the day, we're going to use what works best economically for the pigs and the operation."

While producers discussed profitability, the United Soybean Board used the event to highlight research aimed at helping swine producers evaluate those decisions.

Nathan Augspurger,Ph.D., vice president of animal nutrition and health for the United Soybean Board, says USB is developing tools that combine soybean meal research with economic data to help nutritionists and producers make more informed feeding decisions.

"We're here  to talk about the tools we're building for swine producers in the use of soy," Augspurger says. David Rosero, Ph.D., from Iowa State University was also on hand to  talk about a financial modeling tool that combines the research USB has funded on soybean meal performance with the economics and forward-looking economics of pork production.  Rosero leads research at ISU focusing on swine nutrition and smart farming, with special emphasis on developing technologies to improve sow survivability and longevity.

The goal is to help producers evaluate both productivity and profitability when making feed decisions.

Interest in the topic was evident throughout the expo, Augspurger says.

"People are eager to learn about opportunities to take advantage of economics in their operation because profitability is king and having a tool to evaluate that is pretty valuable,” he said.

Market uncertainty

While nutrition and feed efficiency remain important, producers say outside factors continue to influence markets.

Jason Gienger of Gladbrook spent part of the expo grilling approximately 5,500 pork loin sandwiches and 1,500 racks of ribs for attendees, helping showcase pork to visitors from across the country and around the world.

Back on the farm, however, market volatility remains a major concern.

"Markets are top of mind," Gienger says. "The crops around our area look pretty good. There was some concern early because of the cooler weather, but things seem to be coming along now."

Gienger says uncertainty has become one of the most challenging aspects of marketing grain.

"Sometimes it feels like all it takes is one tweet to move the market," he says. "It doesn't always seem tied to supply and demand anymore. Markets can react quickly and then swing right back the other direction."

Despite the uncertainty, Gienger says his marketing approach has remained largely unchanged.

"We're doing things about the same," he says. "You don't want to take too big of a chance one way or the other. When opportunities come along, you have to be ready to take advantage of them."

Soy and pork connection

For Augspurger, the conversations taking place at World Pork Expo highlight the close relationship between Iowa's soybean and pork industries.

"The opportunity is awesome," he says. "I grew up raising pigs, so personally it's great to be here around pigs and pig people. Soy is such an integral part of feeding pigs, and we're right in the middle of where it's grown."

As farmers look toward the remainder of the growing season and fall harvest, Augspurger says opportunities exist for both crop and livestock producers.

"Knowing the crop is in the ground and thinking about what September and October will look like is really special," he says. "It brings together two pieces of production agriculture and reminds us there's a story to tell that creates opportunities for both pig producers and soybean farmers."

Learn more about Augspurger’s work in swine nutrition formulations by watching this State of Soy:

Written by Kriss Nelson.

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