URBANA, Ill. (RFD NEWS) — Farmers may face wider basis swings and higher marketing risk as U.S. grain storage expansion has effectively stopped while crop production continues to grow. Economists at the University of Illinois warn that the imbalance could create bottlenecks across the supply chain from farm bins to export terminals.
From 2000 to 2019, national storage capacity increased about 350 million bushels annually, closely matching production growth. Since 2020, capacity has barely increased—only about 337 million bushels in six years—even as large crops returned. The 2025 harvest pushed storage utilization to some of the highest levels in decades, with on-farm bins about 80 percent full as of December.
Higher utilization increases the risk that transportation disruptions—such as low Mississippi River levels— will amplify local price discounts. Farmers are increasingly carrying more grain on-farm, shifting storage responsibility away from elevators while investment in new infrastructure slows.
Analysts point to higher construction costs, elevated interest rates, and uncertain returns as reasons expansion stalled.
Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, November 17, 2025.
November 17, 2025 05:05 PM
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National Pork Board Chief Sustainability Officer Jamie Burr shares a closer look at the Pork Checkoff’s Pork Cares Farm Impact Report, a research program to increase trust in the pork supply chain.
November 17, 2025 02:03 PM
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Ethanol markets remain mixed — weaker production and blend rates are being partially balanced by stronger exports as winter demand patterns take shape.
November 17, 2025 01:24 PM
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Strong U.S. yields and steady demand leave most major crops well supplied, keeping price pressure in place unless usage strengthens or weather shifts outlooks.
November 17, 2025 01:17 PM
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Retail competition and improved supplies are helping offset food inflation, pushing Thanksgiving meal costs modestly lower despite higher prices for beef, eggs, and dairy.
November 16, 2025 03:00 PM
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While agriculture doesn’t predict every recession, the sector’s long history of turning down before the broader economy
November 16, 2025 12:00 PM
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The ACRE Act modestly reduces farmland borrowing costs now, with more savings possible once federal guidance clarifies which loans qualify.
November 15, 2025 03:00 PM
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ARC-CO delivers the bulk of 2024 support, offering key margin relief as producers manage tight operating conditions.
November 15, 2025 12:00 PM
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Higher menu prices and tax-free tips are reshaping restaurant economics, sharply lifting server take-home pay even as diners face higher out-the-door costs.
November 15, 2025 08:00 AM
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