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How Indiana Farmers Feed the World | Dan Hardin, Hardin Farms
On today's show I sat down with David Hardin of Danville, Indiana, a sixth-generation hog farmer whose family has farmed the Hendricks/Marion County line since 1827. Hardin explains the newly renovated barn at Hardin Farms and early piglet care (warm temps, sanitation, weaning at 3–4 weeks and ~12–15 pounds), daily health checks, and judicious antibiotic use. We discuss farming economics as "price takers," levers like efficiency and differentiation, and how pigs are fed mostly Indiana corn and soybeans through multiple ration changes to reach ~300 pounds in about five months before shipping to processors such as Tyson, Indiana Packers, and JBS Swift, with pork also exported to places like Japan and Mexico. Hardin describes a farmer's day, from listening to markets, watching the weather, animal care, repairs, and long field hours, plus regenerative practices like reduced tillage and cover crops, integrating hog manure as fertilizer, and continuing to learn through Purdue and farm media. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - Economics of Hog Farming and Best Practices - A Day in the Life of a Hog Farmer Thank you to our partners: Elements Financial Check out these great clips from the show: 01:44 Guest Introduction: David Hardin, Hardin Farms 02:15 Inside The Farm Shop 03:28 New Piglets Barn Tour 04:59 Sanitation And Biosecurity 06:06 Coming Back To Farm 07:17 Commodity Markets Explained 09:39 Levers To Stay Profitable 12:11 Hog Life Cycle Basics 12:35 Breeding And Gestation 15:43 Weaning And Arrival Here 16:58 Daily Health Checks 17:56 Antibiotics And Superbugs 18:39 Family Farms Not PE 20:47 Responsibility And Balance 21:51 Feed And Growth Efficiency 25:06 Processors Brands Exports 27:25 Buying Indiana Pork 27:46 Is There Wagyu Pork 29:01 Misconceptions About Farmers 29:36 A Day On The Farm 30:01 Markets Weather And Livestock 33:30 Long Hours And No Off Days 35:19 Are Farmers Actually Rich 36:39 Starting A Farm Today 40:30 Where Indiana Raises Pigs 41:56 Regenerative Agriculture Explained 45:30 Crops Manure And Recycling 46:31 How Farmers Keep Learning 48:17 Rapid Fire Indiana Favorites 53:37 Final Thanks And Surprise Gift Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.
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