USDA’s September hog inventory survey says the breeding herd was down 0.3 percent at the start of the month, but the market hog inventory was up 0.4 percent. June-August farrowings were down 1.2 percent, but pigs per litter were up 1 percent resulting in a pig crop that was down 0.2 percent compared to last summer. Farrowing intentions for September-November are down 1.7 percent compared to last year and December-February farrowings are predicted to be 1.5 percent lower than last winter.

The market hog inventory implies that fourth quarter hog slaughter will be close to last year’s level and slaughter during the first quarter of 2013 will be down 0.5 percent.

In general, the report was more bullish than the pre-release trade predictions.

Hog slaughter this week totaled 2.345 million head, down 2.3 percent from the week before, but up 4.1 percent compared to the same week last year. Over the last seven weeks hog slaughter has been 5.3 percent above a year-ago and 4 percent above the level implied by the June hog inventory survey.

The average barrow and gilt live weight in Iowa-Minnesota last week was 270.2 pounds, 2.2 pounds above a week earlier and up 0.2 pounds from a year ago.

Hog prices were higher again this week. The national average negotiated carcass price for direct delivered hogs on the morning report today was $74.19 per cwt., up $4.01 from last Friday and up $10.64 from two weeks ago. The Eastern Corn Belt averaged $74.39 per cwt., on the morning report. Neither the Western Corn Belt nor Iowa-Minnesota had enough negotiated sales early this morning for a price quote. Peoria, Ill., had a top live price this morning of $49.50 per cwt. Zumbrota, Minn., topped at $52. The top for interior Missouri live hogs Friday was $54.25 per cwt., up $6.75 from the previous Friday.

The Thursday afternoon calculated pork cutout value was $80.28 per cwt., up $2.85 from the previous Thursday, but $17.80 lower than a year ago. Loins, hams and bellies were higher this week. Butts were lower.

Today’s hog price is 92.4 percent of cutout value. Hog futures were mixed this week. Friday’s close for the October lean hog futures contract was $77.17 per cwt., down $1.37 from the previous Friday. December hog futures ended the week $1.22 lower at $73.75. February hogs settled at $80.25 per cwt. April hog futures closed at $87.55 per cwt.

Corn futures were up the 40 cent limit today due to a lower-than-expected September stocks report. The latest grain stocks report says there were 988 million bushels of corn in storage on Sept. 1. That is 193 million bushels fewer than USDA’s last forecast.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Ron Plain may write to him in care of this publication.