LEAN HOGS on the CME finished lower on Monday. OCT’09LH futures finished down $0.200/cwt at $49.050/cwt and $0.825/cwt lower than last report. The October contract will expire on October 14. The DEC’09LH contract closed down $0.950/cwt at $47.600/cwt and $2.125/cwt lower than a week ago. Prices were pressured by fund selling even though the market is technically oversold; spreading out of back months info forward months; and the continued weak condition in the live and retail hog market. Cash hogs were reported steady-to-weaker with live sales off $1.00/cwt. Pork production continues to contribute large pressure on prices with USDA reporting last week that 469.3 mi lbs were produced vs. 465.9 mi lbs this time last week. USDA on Friday estimated last week’s average hog weight at 270 lbs, compared to 268 a year ago. Record pork production was also recorded in August. USDA did estimate Monday’s processing at 433,000 head vs. 435,000 head last Monday. USDA put the average pork cutout at $53.80/cwt; off $0.53/cwt and $0.95/cwt lower than last report. The latest CME lean hog index was placed at $50.97/lb; off $0.27/lb and $1.46/lb lower than this time last week. The weaker tone to cash hogs was noted on ample supply. According to HedgersEdge.com the average pork plant margin was lowered $0.40/head from last week to positive $5.90/head. This was based on the average buy of $35.74/cwt vs. the average breakeven price of $37.94/cwt. Heavier hogs continue to be discounted by the packers.

CORN futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) closed higher Monday. DEC’09 corn futures finished at $3.414/bu; up 8.0¢/bu but 44.75¢/bu under last report. The MAY’10 contract closed at $3.632; up 7.75¢/bu and 3.0¢/bu higher than last Monday. Weather worries over frost potential, a weaker US dollar, higher-than-expected exports, and chart signals for profits after last Friday’s sell off were supportive. A frost is forecast next weekend for the US Corn Belt and is expected to hurt immature corn there. USDA put the US corn crop at 57 per cent mature, harvest progress at 10 per cent, and corn in good-to-excellent condition at 70 per cent; up 2 points from last week. Traders expected USDA to report the US corn crop at 50 per cent mature and 10-12 per cent harvested. USDA put corn-inspected-for-export at 38.504 mi bu vs. expectations for 32-35 mi bu. US cash corn bids were mixed; weaker where harvest pressure was on and steady to firm where harvest is yet to begin. Cash corn in the US Mid-Atlantic states was steady to firm ranging from 3.0-7.0¢/bu higher. Funds bought 9,000 contracts while large speculators turned net bullish covering nearly 23,000 net short positions. Speculate with 30 per cent of the unsold ’09 crop.

SOYBEAN futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) closed mixed on Monday. NOV’09 soybean futures closed at $8.85/bu; even with last Friday’s close but 8.75¢/bu lower than a week ago. The MAR’10 soybean contract closed at $8.906/bu; off 4.5¢/bu. Expectations for colder weather and the rally in corn were supportive. USDA estimated the US crop 15 per cent harvested vs. the 5-year average of 36 per cent. USDA placed the US soybean crop at 67 per cent good-to-excellent condition. Exports were neutral with USDA reporting soybeans-inspected-for-export at 12.482 mi bu vs. expectations for 11-16 mi bu. Cash soybeans in the US Midwest ranged from weak to firm on mixed harvest reports. Cash bids for soybeans in the US Mid-Atlantic States were steady amid slow farmers selling. Large speculators changed from net bear to net bull covering 2,446 short positions. If the frost comes early enough it could pay to speculate with the remaining 30 per cent of the ’09 crop.

WHEAT futures in Chicago (CBOT) were steady on Monday. DEC’09 futures closed at $4.622/bu; up 1.5¢/bu and 10.75¢/bu higher than last report. The JULY’10 wheat contract closed at $4.864/bu; up 1.0¢/bu but 18.75+¢/bu cents lower than last Monday. Mild gains were made on this technical bounce after recent sharp declines. Exports were slightly bearish with USDA reporting 18.033 mi bu of wheat-inspected-for-export vs. expectations for 19-21 mi bu. Rains in the US Northern Plains were slowing harvest with USDA placing harvest at 97 per cent complete vs. 100 per cent for this time of year. Funds bought 1,000 contracts while large speculators covered 4,185 short positions. It is still a good idea to get up to 60 per cent of the ’10 crop priced at this time.