Pork industry will eventually feel the loss of some information but having daily slaughter and purchases and prices for hogs and pork will allow the industry to operate more-or-less smoothly.

While hog producers continue to bleed red ink as December closes out, the market projects positive margins heading into both the second and third quarters of 2019.

Nearly all news flashes, news items down the road should be positive. The futures market is very quick to sense these changes, these possible future developments.

USDA numbers come in close to analysts’ pre-report estimates.

It does not appear that the shortfall in this fall’s hog slaughter has been due to market hogs being backed up on farms. Carcass weights in recent weeks have been even with or below last year’s level.

Upcoming trade negotiations with Japan are critical for the U.S. pork and beef industries, as all major competitors in the Japanese market will soon benefit from significant tariff reductions.

The largest Saturday slaughter of the year usually comes the Saturday after one of three holidays — Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I suspect the government’s hand will be forced in the December report if we are still at loggerheads with China and will have to break this barrier in the name of maintaining a straight face.

One of the most urgent takeaways from the September report Halstrom says is making sure the U.S. is on an equal playing field for market access.

Average weight across all hogs is best to watch if one is trying to determine production or monitor how production might be impacted by slaughter changes.