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Looking ahead 10 and 25 years for the pork industry

On July 2, 2025 we became closer to 2050 than we were to 2000. Just think about how fast the year since has gone.

As a kid born in the early 1980s, 2000 felt like some distant future. But guess what? Fears of the Y2K computer bug are now more than 25 years behind us. Before we know it, 2050 will be here. What seems crazy is 2026 is as far beyond 2000 as 2000 was in the future in 1974. Where has the time gone?

Uncertainty of change fuels opportunities
We tend to predict the future in two ways. Both are imperfect. One, we expect the future to be just like today. It won’t be. Two, we look at the past, see the changes, and expect changes to be similar in the future. They won’t be.

But changes will occur. Big changes. Those who can most clearly see the opportunities, and challenges, will be best prepared to succeed. Yes, they will have a bit of luck. But you’ve heard the saying, “Luck occurs when preparation meets opportunity” or “Fortune favors the prepared.”

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How AI Is Changing Family Hog Farms | Duane Stateler on Technology & the Future of Pork Production

Video: How AI Is Changing Family Hog Farms | Duane Stateler on Technology & the Future of Pork Production

Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape pork production, and longtime pork producer Duane Stateler believes the industry is only getting started.

Recorded at World Pork Expo 2026, Stateler shares how technology has already transformed modern hog farming—from automated barn climate control and feed monitoring to real-time alerts—and explains why AI will play an even bigger role in improving animal care, efficiency, and decision-making.

As a fifth-generation hog farmer, he also discusses the importance of family farms, succession planning, labor, and how technology is helping today's producers care for more animals while maintaining high welfare standards.

In this interview:

The future of AI in pork production

How smart barns improve pig care

Feed bin monitoring and automation

Labor challenges and family farming

Why technology is shaping the next generation of producers