Final answer:
One of the dominant hog producers in the United States since 2000 is North Carolina, as evidenced by the significant number of hog operations reported in the state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks about the dominant hog producers in the United States since the year 2000, notwithstanding a decrease in the number of hog operations. According to data and historical trends, one of the dominant states in hog production is North Carolina. This detail is corroborated by Figure 6-38 mentioned in the question, which references the prevalence of pork in North Carolina's diet, and it's also consistent with the significant number of hog operations reported in Southern states data for North Carolina.
While Kansas is noted for its substantial pig production in the provided information, it is not one of the options given to the student. Additionally, large grain farms, which are rare in areas with significant market gardening, do not necessarily correlate with dominant hog production. Thus, the correct answer from the options provided (Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina) is C) North Carolina.