Recent USDA Agricultural in Drought data, based on the U.S. Drought Monitor map valid October 6, 2026, places 22% of the national hog inventory in moderate or worse drought (D1+), aligning closely with the market's dominant 15-24% bin. Hog-dense Midwest states such as Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin show variable conditions, with localized improvements from recent precipitation offset by persistent dryness and expanding exceptional drought (D4) in northern Wisconsin and parts of the Upper Peninsula. National drought coverage stands near 46%, but impacts on livestock inventories remain moderate compared with cattle or forage. The next weekly update, incorporating any mid-October rainfall or model shifts, will determine whether the percentage holds in the current range or edges into adjacent bins.