Recent USDA Ag in Drought data for early October placed roughly 22% of U.S. hog inventory in moderate or worse drought (D1+), concentrated in key production states including Iowa and Minnesota. Variable precipitation from remnants of Hurricane Polo and forecast heavy rain across parts of the Southern Plains, Missouri, and Illinois have driven localized improvements in the U.S. Drought Monitor, while drier conditions persist elsewhere. These shifts create uncertainty around the precise percentage for the week of October 13, as hog locations relative to evolving D1+ boundaries and the timing of the next official map determine whether totals fall below 15%, cluster near 15–24%, or exceed 25%. National drought coverage near 46% and model consensus on steering patterns add further variability ahead of the upcoming monitoring update.