NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — As November wraps up, most of the Corn Belt has corn and soybeans effectively harvested, while cotton is still dragging in several key states. Cattle numbers and packing capacity remain tight, and a major grain dealer bankruptcy is forcing farmers in multiple states to double-check contracts, documentation, and risk management heading into year-end.
Great Plains
- Texas — Cotton harvest is running behind normal, with USDA pegging Texas around 60% complete versus a 66% five-year average, keeping gins busy and some fields exposed to late weather. Panhandle feedyards are watching Tyson’s plan to cut Amarillo to a single shift, which will lengthen some hauls and pressure local cash bids.
- Oklahoma — Fall cattle runs remain active as wheat pasture firms up where moisture has cooperated, but light wheat stands in drier areas are limiting grazing plans. Producers are weighing whether to retain more calves or capture still-strong feeder prices before winter.
- Kansas — Corn and sorghum harvests are essentially wrapped up, but cotton is well behind normal, with the USDA highlighting Kansas as one of the slowest states to finish. Feedlots continue to feel the squeeze from tighter feeder supplies and lower cattle placements.
- Nebraska — Nebraska now leads the nation in cattle on feed, edging ahead of Texas and Kansas with 2.64 million head on November 1, even as overall U.S. feedlot inventories run 2% below last year. The Tyson Lexington plant closure announcement is raising concerns about future basis levels, competition for finished cattle, and local job losses.
- South Dakota & North Dakota — Corn and soybean harvests are nearly complete, helped by recent dry windows. Basis is holding relatively firm away from river markets, but producers remain cautious about 2026 marketing plans amid lingering input costs and uncertain export demand.
Midwest
- Iowa — With corn harvest effectively finished, attention has shifted to grain quality, on-farm storage management, and 2026 cash-flow planning. The Hansen-Mueller bankruptcy is prompting farmers and elevators to re-check grain contracts and delivery records, especially where grain has moved through multi-state elevator networks.
- Illinois — Fields are mostly quiet as harvest winds down and fall tillage and fertilizer work wrap up between showers. Export flows remain mixed: interior basis is generally more supportive than river bids, where barge freight and global competition weigh on prices.
- Minnesota & Wisconsin — Corn and soybeans are largely in the bin, but some producers are still working through drying costs and storage decisions. Minnesota’s new grain indemnity fund is facing its first major test with the Hansen-Mueller case, giving farmers a potential safety net but not a guarantee of full recovery.
- Michigan & Ohio — Remaining corn acres are being wrapped up, with attention shifting to 2026 input purchases and fertilizer pricing. Basis inland remains firmer than at river terminals, and growers are balancing prepaid inputs against tighter working-capital positions.
Delta & South
- Arkansas & Louisiana — Rice and soybeans are largely finished, and attention is now on winter wheat stands and input planning for 2026. River logistics have been mostly manageable, though barge freight and timing still influence net returns at the farm gate.
- Mississippi — Grain harvest is wrapping up while sweet potato producers assess a season marked by higher shares of small, lower-value roots that trimmed margins. Export demand remains a bright spot, with Canada and Europe continuing to buy U.S. sweet potatoes, but grading and cost pressures remain key concerns.
- Alabama, Georgia & Florida — Cotton and peanut seasons are nearing the end, but some fields remain to be picked in slower areas. Cattle and forage conditions have generally improved with fall moisture, yet producers are still watching diesel and fertilizer costs closely as they plan for 2026.
- Carolinas & Virginia — North Carolina cotton harvest is running behind the five-year average, with USDA estimating only about 64% complete by mid-November. Regional textile and spinning capacity remains under pressure, adding marketing uncertainty for programs that rely on local “dirt-to-shirt” supply chains.
West & Southwest
- California — Specialty crop growers continue to juggle labor, water, and shipping costs even as drought conditions have eased from their peak in prior years. Nut and fruit operations are finishing post-harvest work and weighing capital investments against still-high borrowing costs.
- Arizona & New Mexico — Rangeland conditions improved with scattered rains, but water and feed remain major constraints in drier pockets. Cattle producers are balancing strong calf and feeder prices against expensive hay and supplemental feed heading into winter.
- Colorado & Utah — Winter wheat seeding is largely complete, though stands vary depending on fall moisture. Row-crop producers are watching weak grain prices and elevated input costs, which continue to strain budgets despite decent 2025 yields.
- Nevada — Late-season hay movements are winding down as ranchers finalize winter feed stocks. Water allocations and long-term forage planning remain central to 2026 decisions.
Northwest & Northern Rockies
- Washington & Oregon — Soft white wheat shippers in the Pacific Northwest remain active, with USDA inspections showing strong PNW wheat movement compared to the Gulf. Exporters continue to monitor Asian demand, freight rates, and currency moves that affect competitiveness.
- Idaho — Feedlots are booking feed needs while watching grain and hay markets for winter coverage opportunities. Recent moisture has helped winter wheat and pasture conditions, but has not erased earlier dryness in some basins.
- Montana & Wyoming — Hay stocks are generally adequate after a decent forage year, and calf sales are wrapping up on a still-strong cattle market. Winter wheat acres are in, though subsoil moisture remains a concern in drier counties.
Northeast
New York & Pennsylvania — Corn silage is mostly done and grain corn is nearly wrapped up, with dairy farms focused on ration costs and milk margins. Persistent input and labor costs are squeezing profitability even as retail food prices remain firm, keeping pressure on family-scale operations.
Maryland & Delaware — Soybean and corn harvest are effectively complete, and barge and truck logistics along the Chesapeake have remained relatively fluid. Growers are weighing rotations and fertilizer strategies amid soft grain prices and uncertain export pull.
New Jersey & New England — Vegetable, orchard, and nursery operations are transitioning into winter mode, focusing on storage, greenhouse work, and labor planning for 2026. Direct-market farms report steady holiday demand but continued sensitivity to price increases.
Upper Midwest & Great Lakes
- Michigan — Dry beans, sugar beets, and remaining corn are finishing up, with processors keeping a close eye on quality after scattered weather delays. Dairy margins remain tight, and many farms are revisiting capital plans heading into 2026.
- Wisconsin — Row-crop harvest is largely complete, and local feed mills are setting bids to secure corn and soybean supplies for winter. Land rents and machinery costs remain top concerns as producers pencil out break-even levels for next year.
- Ohio & Indiana — Corn and soybeans are nearly wrapped up, with most producers satisfied with yields but frustrated by price levels. Some are locking in 2026 input needs early, where discounts are available, while others hold back to preserve cash.
Far North & Territories
- Alaska — Livestock and small-grain producers are securing feed, fuel, and supplies ahead of deeper winter weather. Shipping bottlenecks and high freight costs continue to shape everything from hay availability to basic inputs.
- U.S. Territories — Puerto Rico and other island territories remain sensitive to freight and port costs, which keep feed and input prices elevated. Weather risks and infrastructure constraints continue to complicate long-term planning for local livestock and specialty-crop sectors.
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