LEAN HOGS on the CME closed mixed on Monday. OCT’10LH futures finished at $74.875/cwt; down $0.050/cwt and $3.350/cwt under last report. The FEB’11LH contract closed up $0.025/cwt at $75.100/cwt; $2.975/cwt lower than last Monday. Floor sources said the pits think that cash prices are topping and technical selling is pressuring futures prices. Retail prices turned lower with USDA putting the average cash pork price at $93.51/cwt; off $0.22/cwt and $1.98/cwt lower than last report. Rolling October bull positions into December and February weakened prices. The latest lean hog index was placed at 84.30/lb; up 0.09/lb and 0.52/lb over this time last week. Short covering was the primary trading action because of the large discount to cash prices caused by recent losses in October futures. According to HedgersEdge.com, the average packer margin was raised $0.50/head to a positive $21.50/hd based on the average buy of $59.26cwt vs. the average breakeven of $67.32/cwt.

CORN futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) closed up Monday on reports that corn yields will likely be lower than USDA estimates of 165 bu/ac. Yield estimates are running 163.79 bu/ac. The SEPT’10 contract closed at $4.254/bu; up 4.5¢/bu and 8.25¢/bu higher than last report. DEC’10 corn futures closed up 5.5¢/bu at $4.414/bu and 8.75¢/bu higher than last Monday. The DEC’11 contract closed at $4.466/bu; up 6.25¢/bu and 0.75¢/bu higher than a week ago. Increased demand and exports were supportive as USDA put corn-inspected-for-export at 45.265 mi bu vs. expectations for 33-36 mi bu. Dry, hot weather in the US Midwest have traders thinking an early harvest may be coming but the weather will also hurt yields if it continues. Large speculators are net bulls as funds bought over 10,000 lots. It would be a good consideration to price 60 per cent of the 2011 crop.

SOYBEAN futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) closed down on Monday. SEP’10 soybean futures finished down 4.0¢/bu at $10.180/bu but 11.0¢/bu higher than a week ago. NOV’10 futures closed at $10.224/bu, down 3.5¢/bu but 17.0¢/bu higher than last week at this time. NOV’11 soybean futures closed down 2.5¢/bu at $10.120/bu; 15.5¢/bu over last report. Soybeans are weakening on softening basis at gulf ports as harvest gets going. Exports were bearish as USDA put soybeans-inspected-for-export at 7.174 mi bu vs. expectations for 10-15 mi bu. Funds sold over 2,000 lots as large speculators lowered net bull positions. Soybeans were also pressured by spreaders selling soybeans and buying corn. Both soybean and corn have yield challenges. It would be a good idea to hold at 90 per cent sold in the 2010 crop and price up to 30 per cent sold in the 2011 crop.

WHEAT futures in Chicago (CBOT) closed up on Monday. The SEPT’10 wheat contract closed at $6.712/bu; up 8.75¢/bu but 21.0¢/bu under last week at this time. JULY’11 futures finished up 5.25¢/bu at $7.102/bu; 8.25¢/bu cents lower than last report. Drought in Russia, Australia, and Argentina along with too much water and rain in Germany and northern France have combined to support wheat futures. Exports were supportive with USDA putting wheat-inspected-for-export at 25.521 mi bu vs. expectations for 20-25 mi bu. Large speculators are shifting from net-bear to net-bull positions with funds buying 4,000 lots. It would be a good idea to get to 85 per cent sold in the 2011 crop.