Iowa State University calculations estimate the average cost of production in 2011 for farrow-to-finish operations at a record 65 cents per pound of live weight. That is 8 cents higher than the previous record set in 2008. The average profit last year as calculated by Shane Ellis, ISU ag economist, was $4.92 per head. The typical hog producer lost money in 2008 and 2009 and made money in 2010 and 2011. Over the last 10 years, on average the first three and last three months of the year were unprofitable; while the middle six months, April through September, were usually profitable. 

Today’s corn futures close implies a 2012 average corn price around $6.25 per bushel, which should yield a cost of production close to 67 cents per live pound. Today’s lean hog futures close implies an average live hog price of 67.5 cents per pound. That’s positive, but not by much. 

Hog prices ended the week steady to $1 lower than the previous Friday. The national average negotiated carcass price for direct delivered hogs on the morning report today was $81.50 per cwt., down 80 cents from last Friday. The Western Corn Belt averaged $85.14 this morning and Iowa-Minnesota had a morning average of $86.23 per cwt. The Eastern Corn Belt averaged $80.81 per cwt. this morning. The west-east price spread of $4.33 is unusually large. Friday’s top live hog price at Peoria was $59 per cwt. Zumbrota, Minn., had a top of $60 per cwt. The top for interior Missouri live hogs was $60.75 per cwt., down 75 cents from the previous Friday. 

USDA’s Thursday afternoon calculated pork cutout value was $84.95 per cwt., up $1.66 from the previous Thursday. Loins, bellies and hams were higher; butts were lower. The Iowa-Minnesota average hog price this morning was 101.5 percent of the pork cutout value. A carcass hog price at 92 percent of cutout is normal. 

Hog slaughter totaled 2.137 million head this week, down 1.4 percent from the week before, but up 3.8 percent compared to the same week last year, which was light because of heavy snow in the Midwest. Barrow and gilt carcass weights for the week ending Jan. 21 averaged 206 pounds, the same as both the week before and a year ago. Iowa-Minnesota live weights for barrows and gilts last week averaged 275.5 pounds, up 0.2 pounds from the previous week and up 2.3 pound compared to a year earlier. 

Today’s close for the February lean hog futures contract, $87.52 per cwt., was up 85 cents from the previous Friday. The April lean hog futures contract settled at $88.92 per cwt., up $1.55 for the week. May hogs settled at $97.25 per cwt. June hogs ended the week at $98.10 per cwt. 

The March corn futures contract ended the week at $6.445 per bushel, up 3 cents for the week. May corn settled at $6.5075 per bushel. 

The March soybean meal futures contract ended the week at $328.60 per ton. May meal settled at $330.20. 

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.