Hog slaughter finished last week at an estimated 2.658 million head, down 1.4 percent from last year and down 2.9 percent from the week prior. Production is forecast to trend lower into March, averaging 2.6 million head per week. Production is forecast down 0.9 percent from 2020 levels. The slower production adds some risk for higher prices to the market, but the main catalyst to higher prices through January has been the soybean meal market. Soybean meal prices moved lower last week and were marginally down today on the March contract. The negative tone in bean meal…