1.   A government report showing a surprisingly large hog herd sent corn and soybean futures prices sharply higher.

2.   A report released by the USDA after trading Friday indicated that U.S. hog herd is expanding, which signals increased demand for corn-based livestock feed.

3.   Corn and soybeans plunged after a U.S. agriculture official said Taiwan will cut feedgrain purchases for its disease-ravaged hog herd.

4.   During the past four to six weeks, farmers were holding back sows with a view of expanding the hog herd.

5.   Hog futures rose after the government reported a smaller U.S. hog herd in March because of high feed prices last year.

6.   Hog and pork belly futures soared after Taiwan halted pork exports because of disease in its hog herd, raising expectations that U.S. sales will increase.

7.   High grain costs forced some farmers to sell their hogs before the animals reached market weight, rather than shoulder the rising cost of feeding their hog herd.

8.   In CHICAGO, hog futures rose after the government reported a smaller U.S. hog herd in March because high feed prices last year deterred farmers from expanding their herds.

9.   In CHICAGO, soybean futures slid for a second day amid concern that Taiwan will reduce purchases of U.S. feed grains because of its diseased hog herd.

10.   Last night, Taiwan lifted the export ban it placed on pork products in mid-March after discovering highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease in its hog herd.