How Indiana Farmers Feed the World | David 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

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