1.   At the same time, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon is negotiating to settle allegations of pollution violations in a state lawsuit against the hog producer.

2.   Besides the smell and the environmental impact, the big farms are driving small hog producers out of business.

3.   Big hog producers have started raising some pigs in the western provinces of Canada and are said to be considering doing the same in Mexico, he said.

4.   A few hog producers sold their animals altogether instead of fighting rising feed costs.

5.   Additionally, many expect the USDA later this month will report that hog producers are expanding their herds, promising even larger supplies in the months ahead.

6.   But he said the big-scale hog producers were helping people survive in the countryside.

7.   But Murphy, Seaboard and other large hog producers have made plans in recent months to open farms across western Kansas, increasing the concern of their opponents.

8.   Encouraged by strong markets this summer, many hog producers expanded their herds.

9.   Federal officials announced Friday that they have begun a new pollution investigation into the giant hog producer Premium Standard Farms in north Missouri.

10.   He also said that with hog producers specializing, it was harder for them to cull their herds.