News  Agriculture  Crops

Harvest ’25: Illinois Harvest Hits 11% Completion in Drought Conditions; Producers Eye Fall Farmland Sales

Midwest corn and soy producers are monitoring for disease and lower yields due to the ongoing drought over the last 30 days.

September 24, 2025 04:38 PM • 
RFD NEWS STAFF, Marion Kirkpatrick

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (RFD-TV) — Combines are rolling nationwide, with corn harvest now 11 percent complete in central Illinois, where farmers are making steady progress while also monitoring farmland markets this fall.

David Klein with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) joined us to provide an update on harvest conditions and land sales in the region.

In his interview with RFD-TV News, Klein shared what he’s seeing in Illinois fields so far this season and noted that farmland sales are beginning to line up for the fall. He also discussed key factors that could influence the price direction during harvest, including yields, input costs, and broader market trends.

Klein reported on recent supply activity in Illinois and explained how potential shifts in farmland prices might affect marketing strategies for producers and landowners.

Related Stories
ur7rExba.jpg
Business
NCBA Pushes for Hauler Reforms to Improve Cattle Welfare and Transportation Efficiency
NCBA is focused on hours-of-service regulations and support for increased truck weight limits, which would allow haulers to move more cattle with fewer trucks.
June 17, 2026 12:38 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
lNk8Qn1p.jpg
Washington Policy
Fertilizer Prices Ease, but Farmers Remain Concerned About Industry Consolidation
Dr. Gary Schnitkey from the University of Illinois discusses farmers’ sentiment toward industry consolidation, especially in the fertilizer sector, where costs remain historically high.
June 17, 2026 11:53 AM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
farming taxes accounting money_adobe stock.png
Rural Money
Farmland Sale Tax Deferral Offers Cash Flow Flexibility
To qualify, land must be in the U.S., used substantially for farming in the last 10 years, and restricted from non-farm use for at least 10 years after the sale.
June 17, 2026 08:00 AM
 · 
Tony St. James
0G4A7492 copy.jpg
Markets
Cattle Futures Volatility Tests Risk Plans Despite History
K-State economists say big swings in cattle futures can complicate hedging, margin calls, and timing of sales.
June 17, 2026 07:00 AM
 · 
Tony St. James

Corn Harvesting Industry Concerns Farmland Real Estate Crop Disease Drought Midwest Soybeans
RFD NEWS STAFF
RFD NEWS STAFF

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

ag tags_2026_tn-doa.png
Rural Lifestyle
Help Choose the Next Tennessee Ag Tag License Plate Design
Tennessee’s Agriculture specialty license plate, known as the Ag Tag, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and state agriculture leaders are giving the public a chance to help shape its next chapter.
June 17, 2026 05:00 AM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
2Ug4BDGJ.jpg
Energy
Southeast Asia Emerging as a Growth Market for U.S. Grains and Ethanol Exports
Experts note that economic growth, fuel demand, and energy diversification are opening new opportunities for U.S. grain and ethanol exports in Southeast Asia.
June 16, 2026 01:50 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
twtlefs7.jpg
Energy
Trump Administration Evaluating California’s Potter Valley Project, Signals Support for Existing Dams
The Potter Valley Project has provided irrigation water and hydroelectric power for over 100 years in Northern California, serving agriculture and municipal users.
June 16, 2026 01:42 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
gcg8flMG.jpg
Crops
Cotton Markets Show Cautious Optimism Despite Trade Headwinds
The USDA’s new cotton initiative comes as policymakers continue to focus on stabilizing farm income across major row crops while balancing export exposure with domestic supply chain resilience.
June 16, 2026 01:36 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
gxsVzV7I.jpg
Livestock
USDA, DHS, and Border Patrol Join Forces to Track Screwworm Threat
Agencies will collaborate to monitor wildlife movement along the U.S. Southern Border and reduce pathways for New World Screwworm to spread.
June 16, 2026 01:00 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
wRZSg1ES.jpg
Business
JBS Plant Closures Raise Questions on Beef Packing Capacity as Analysts Monitor U.S. Herd Expansion
More than 1,000 Pennsylvania JBS workers face layoffs as the company prepares to close a beef processing plant this summer.
June 16, 2026 12:40 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
Agriculture Shows
commodity-talk_scott_black-logo_1920x1080.jpg
mdr weekend_eliza_1920x1080.jpg
prairie prophets-share-image_logo.jpg
TopCrop_CombineWLogo_1920x1080.jpg
Commodity Talk
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
Market Day Report Weekend
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Prairie Prophets
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Top Crop
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.