NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Producers across the United States spent the week balancing late-season harvest pushes, tightening margins, and weather-driven delays. Row crop work is winding down in most regions, while winter wheat conditions reflect mixed moisture trends. Livestock markets remain steady, though forage and feed availability vary sharply by region.
Great Plains
- Texas & Oklahoma: Cotton harvest progressed quickly in the South Plains under dry conditions, though yields remain highly variable. Cattle movement increased as ranchers secured winter forage and monitored screwworm updates following recent but contained detections in northern Mexico.
- Kansas & Nebraska: Corn and soybean harvest wrapped up in most counties, with storage nearly full and basis steady to firm. Wheat emergence improved after scattered showers, but dryness lingers in western zones.
Midwest
- Iowa: Harvest is nearly complete, with corn test weights better than expected despite low cash prices. Hog margins stabilized, though packer schedules remained tight due to seasonal plant slowdowns.
- Illinois & Indiana: Grain moisture levels dropped sharply this week, helping producers finish harvest ahead of normal. Input prepay activity is cautious as farmers evaluate 2026 fertilizer and chemical prices.
Delta & South
- Arkansas & Mississippi: Soybean cutting continues where fields remain firm enough, with yields mixed by planting date. Cattle operators are feeding more hay as pastures thin early from fall dryness.
- Louisiana: Sugarcane harvest intensified with good tonnage but weather-dependent sugar recovery. River logistics improved slightly, helping clear grain backlogs.
West & Southwest
- California: Specialty crop growers wrapped up fall harvest windows, while irrigators prepared for early-season water allocation updates. Dairy prices held mostly steady with mixed feed costs.
- Arizona & New Mexico: Winter lettuce and vegetable harvests moved steadily with favorable temperatures. Cow-calf operators increased supplementation as rangeland conditions fluctuate.
Northwest & Northern Rockies
- Washington & Oregon: Wheat growers welcomed light rain, which improved soil moisture profiles ahead of colder temperatures. Fruit storage remains full, with exports steady but logistics still cost-sensitive.
- Idaho & Montana: Calf sales were active with firm demand, while hay markets softened on adequate regional supply. Winter wheat emergence varied widely depending on early moisture.
Northeast
- New York & Pennsylvania: Dairy herds benefited from cooler weather, though feed costs remain elevated.
- Corn silage quality looks solid, with most producers transitioning to winter rations.
Upper Midwest & Great Lakes
- Minnesota & Wisconsin: Snow flurries halted final soybean and corn acres, but significant progress was already made.
- Milk prices remained steady, yet processor capacity remains tight in some regions.
Far North & U.S. Territories
- Alaska: Livestock producers reported adequate stored hay but continued concern about shipping costs for feed supplements. Greenhouse operators are preparing for extended periods of low light.
- Puerto Rico: Field conditions continued to be evaluated after heavy fall rains
- Guam: Specialty crop producers reported improving weather and stable market demand.
Related Stories
Bigger cows must wean proportionally heavier calves to justify higher ownership costs.
Strong ethanol production and export trends continue to support corn demand despite seasonal fuel consumption softness.
Cotton demand depends on demonstrating performance and reliability buyers can rely on, not messaging alone.
Read the full press release published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Lily Pryer’s passion shows how National FFA members are making an impact in classrooms and communities all across Rural America.
A look at the legislative year ahead as lawmakers return to Washington with a slate of trade concerns to tackle in 2026—from new Chinese tariffs on beef imports to the USMCA review this summer.
