# Stronger-than-usual winter prices

> Iowa farrow-to-finish operations earned an estimated $8.75 per hog in December, the first profitable December since 2014. Cost of production fell to $81.51/cwt, the lowest since December 2021, mainly because corn prices were lower. USDA expects the 2024/25 average corn farm price at $4.25/bu.

- Date: 2025-01-27 · published 2025-01-27T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/26655-stronger-than-usual-winter-prices
- Commodities: [Lean Hogs](https://feedsoft.ai/c/HOGS.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Lower feed costs are improving hog margins, which should support herd expansion and larger slaughter later in 2025. Futures pricing for corn in 2025 is higher than the current marketing year, which could weigh on margins later.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: bullish ▲
- HOGS: neutral

## Sources

- nationalhogfarmer.com: https://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/market-news/stronger-than-usual-winter-prices

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.