1.   Contributing to the drop in hog prices today was expectation that the USDA on Friday will lower its forecast for U.S. corn and soybean supplies.

2.   Farming is in crisis in the region, largely because of collapsing hog prices.

3.   For more than six months, a glut in the number of hogs being raised sent hog prices plummeting to Depression-era lows.

4.   High hog prices and weak wholesale markets mean meatpackers are losing money processing hogs, traders said.

5.   Higher hog prices prompted by rising feed costs should result in increased slaughter and breeding, USDA livestock analyst James Nix said.

6.   HELP OFFERED FOR HOG FARMERS The Agriculture secretary announced steps to slow the slide in hog prices and offered farmers hope for easier credit.

7.   Hog prices also rose, though copper fell.

8.   Hog prices during the past three months suffered amid plentiful beef supplies and relatively high pork prices.

9.   Hog prices fell amid concern that a seasonal increase in hog supplies will outpace demand for pork products in the coming month.

10.   Hog prices have climbed amid speculation that Japan, whose biggest source of pork imports was Taiwan, will now turn to the U.S. for supplies.