NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — A fresh band of cold air and scattered moisture shaped harvest timing this week, tightening windows in northern states while stabilizing early winter wheat stands elsewhere. Input markets, freight conditions, and cattle movement continued to guide decisions as growers shift toward winter prep and early 2026 planning.
Great Plains
- Kansas/Nebraska: Corn and milo harvest is winding down, with shuttle loaders supporting firm basis while interior bids soften as on-farm space fills. Winter wheat emergence ranges from good on moisture-favored acres to uneven on lighter soils.
- Colorado/Oklahoma: Wheat grazing is underway in pockets with adequate tillering. Dry conditions helped late-season fieldwork, while demand for cattle placement remains steady.
Midwest
- Iowa/Illinois: Remaining corn and soybean acres are coming out between periodic showers. River freight is workable but continues to influence processor and elevator bids.
- Indiana/Ohio: Corn drying remains brisk with steady movement into local markets. Wheat planting is complete, with emergence tied closely to residue and soil compaction patterns.
Delta & South
- Arkansas/Mississippi/Louisiana: Soy and rice movement remains active with good logistics. Cotton gins are tapering off as late-season rains lowered quality in select fields.
- Southeast: Winter wheat seedings are nearly complete, and fertilizer interest is rising as growers gauge barge availability and pre-plant needs.
West & Southwest
- California/Arizona/New Mexico: Specialty and vegetable harvests are ahead of schedule, and dairies continue to monitor feed costs as by-products adjust.
- West Texas: Cotton modules are moving steadily to gins, with grades varying widely. Small-grain pasture conditions depend heavily on follow-up moisture.
Northwest & Northern Rockies
- Washington/Oregon/Idaho/Montana: Winter wheat stands range from fair to strong, depending on fall rainfall. Colder nights have narrowed fieldwork windows, and fertilizer dealers report healthy ammonia demand where soils are suitable.
- Northern Rockies: Cattle are shifting into winter lots, with hay inventories generally adequate.
Northeast
- New York/New England: Dairy margins benefit from softer feed prices and stable milk movement. Fieldwork is largely complete, and attention is turning toward equipment maintenance and early ordering for 2026 inputs.
Upper Midwest & Great Lakes
- Minnesota/Wisconsin/Michigan: Corn drying is steady with firm processor and river-adjacent basis. Winter wheat emergence is acceptable, and growers are planning early topdress and seed decisions for spring.
Far North & Territories
- North Dakota/South Dakota: Late corn is still coming out between cold fronts. Winter cattle placement is underway, and wheat stands are benefiting from timely moisture, though snow cover would provide ideal protection heading into deeper winter.
Related Stories
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) shares his perspective on the U.S.-China trade developments and their potential impact on American producers, farmers, and ranchers.
Prepare for softer milk checks into winter, watch cull-cow values and timing, and stress-test cash flow as product prices recalibrate.
Cattle markets are collapsing this week, and analysts say that several factors are at play. Consumer beef prices also remain near all-time highs, threatening long-term demand.
The President’s trip to Asia this week follows a trade mission by the Iowa Soybean Association. Farmers say they were reminded that U.S. soybeans have an international reputation that can be easy to take for granted here at home.
Harvest Marches on as River Logistics And Inputs Steer Bids
John Appel with the Farmers Business Network (FBN) joins us for a closer look at the 2026 Crop Protection Market Outlook Report.
Farmers display a unique optimism — planting with the expectation that weather, basis, and prices will improve by harvest — asserting that the profession is an identity, not just a job.
Margin Protection and the new MCO add county-level margin tools — with earlier price discovery, input cost triggers, and high subsidy rates — to complement on-farm risk plans for 2026.
For aging operators and their rural neighbors, staying socially engaged is a practical strategy to preserve decision-making capacity and farm vitality.
