NASHVILLE (RFD-TV) — Cotton harvest is in full swing, and growers across the country are closely monitoring production and exports as the market navigates seasonal trends.
“As we look at this U.S. crop, if we make upwards of 14 million barrels, that looks like we could have a 5 million bale carryout and -- you know, that’s going to keep us in the middle-to-low 60s as we go. You know, last week’s exports were 86,000 bales, which were down 54% from the previous week,” explained Market analyst Kevin Huddleston.
Huddleston told RFD-TV News that any news of trade deals could make the difference in how prices move through the fall.
“You just got to keep in mind China’s the driver here,” Huddleston said. “I know we sell like a broken record player, but we need a trade deal with China to get this thing turned around. We can get a trade deal. This thing could spark back up into the low 70s, maybe middle 70s.”
He said producers need to be ready to secure bookings when the time arrives.
“Producers really need to be ready that if we do get up into the low 70s, we need to be prepared to strike contracts,” he said.
Cotton Harvest Progress
In Texas, harvest is stretching west and south, while in Oklahoma, growers are juggling cotton with winter wheat planting.
Arkansas is seeing harvest speed up. Along the East Coast, states like North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia are keeping the harvest moving steadily.
Cattle and hog supplies continue to tighten while dairy output expands, creating a split outlook in which red-meat prices soften and milk values come under pressure from larger supplies.
November 18, 2025 03:02 PM
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Hunter Biram, an extension economist with the University of Arkansas, is tracking Mississippi River water levels as grain shippers shift their focus to transportation following the wrap-up of fall harvest.
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Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities shares an update on post-WASDE grain movement, with corn leading export momentum, soybeans steady, and wheat and sorghum continuing to move selectively.
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China still has a long way to go before it meets its commitment to buy 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans this year.
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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.
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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.
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Tariff relief may soften grocery prices, but it also intensifies competition for U.S. fruit, vegetable, and beef producers as cheaper imports regain market share.
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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.
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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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