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US pork exports to Mexico hit record pace through April

US pork exports to Mexico reached 403,675 metric tons in the first four months of 2026, up 5% year over year and valued at just under $900 million, putting shipments on a record annual pace, according to the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

April exports to Mexico totalled 94,538 mt, up 3% from a year ago, with value climbing 7% to $211.4 million. Pork variety meat shipments to Mexico through April reached 58,713 mt, up 6%, valued at $104.3 million.

However, USMEF warned that May data will reflect a major disruption in variety meat trade after Mexico halted imports of skins, fat, feet and other offal items following findings of pseudorabies virus (PRV) antibodies in US hogs. Restrictions, which initially applied regardless of state of origin, were narrowed as of June 8 to products sourced from hogs from farms in Iowa or Texas. USMEF said it hopes to see restrictions lifted once a second round of PRV testing is completed and a final USDA report is submitted to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

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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