The Colombian agreement was signed in November 2006. The agreement with Panama was signed in June 2007. USDA estimates that once approved, increased trade with these three countries will add $2.31 billion to US ag exports. The US Meat Export Federation predicts the South Korean agreement will double the value of US pork going to South Korea.

Last year, the US shipped 220.171 million pounds of pork to South Korea, 21.765 million pounds to Colombia, and 11.639 million pounds to Panama. Combined, these three countries accounted for six per cent of US pork exports.

Korea's tariff on US pork and beef will be phased out over several years.

Hog slaughter totalled 2.34 million head last week, up 4.0 per cent from last week and up 4.4 per cent compared to the same week last year. This is the largest weekly hog slaughter since December and one of the top 25 largest weeks ever. Barrow and gilt carcass weights for the week ending 24 September averaged 200 pounds, up one pound from the week before and unchanged from a year ago. Iowa-Minnesota live weights for barrows and gilts last week averaged 270.5 pounds, up 0.5 pound from the week before but down 0.2 pounds compared to the same week last year.

Despite the large slaughter, hog prices moved higher this week. The national average negotiated carcass price for direct delivered hogs on the morning report on 7 October was $90.85/cwt, up $3.51 from the previous Friday. The Friday morning price report for the western corn belt was $90.79/cwt. Iowa-Minnesota, at $93.19, was significantly higher than the western corn belt. Eastern corn belt barrows and gilts averaged $90.90/cwt of carcass. Friday’s top live hog price at Peoria was $63/cwt. Zumbrota’s top was also $63/cwt. The top for interior Missouri live hogs was $64.50/cwt, up 75 cents from the previous Friday. It appears that large amounts of pork are being exported.

This week the pork cut-out value dropped slightly from the previous week. USDA's Thursday afternoon calculated pork cut-out value was $97.91/cwt, down 17 cents from the previous Thursday. Loins, hams and butts were lower, bellies higher.

Last Friday's close for the October lean hog futures contract, $94.67/cwt, was up $1.30 from the previous Friday. The December lean hog futures contract settled at $89.40/cwt, up $1.60 from the previous Friday. February gained 18 cents this week to settle at $91.75/cwt.

After two weeks of sharp losses, corn futures posted a modest gain this week. The December futures contract settled at $6.00, up eight cents for the week. March corn settled at $6.1275, May at $6.2025 and July at $6.2425 per bushel.