NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — This week, U.S. agriculture is navigating tighter logistics, shifting trade signals, and a harvest in full swing — all of which are shaping how producers are planning end-of-year operations and beyond. Steady equipment and fuel costs alongside renewed export interest suggest farmers should stay nimble in their forward strategies.
This Week’s Top Agriculture Headlines
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pushed the November World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) Report and Crop Production bundle to Friday, Nov. 14, at 11:00 a.m. ET, making that report the first full post-shutdown read on yields, exports, and feed/residual — a key pivot for basis and hedging into year-end.
In China, Dr. Fred Gale notes that crushers are bleeding red ink after paying up for Brazilian beans, signaling potential openings for U.S. soy if policy momentum and price parity hold.
Closer to home, the Mississippi River’s historic low water continues to thin tow sizes and spike freight, widening Gulf/PNW basis spreads and forcing farmers to juggle on-farm storage, delivery windows, and cash needs.
Meanwhile, consumer demand keeps rewarding quality: Certified Angus Beef capped another powerhouse year with 1.235 billion pounds sold and record Prime volume, sending a clear price signal for genetics and grade despite tight cattle supplies.
Ultimately, line up pre-WASDE positions, watch China purchase chatter versus barge logistics, and stay nimble on cash versus carry as premiums persist for quality cattle.
———
Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, November 3, 2025:
Great Plains
- Texas — Cotton harvest rolls across the High Plains and Rolling Plains; gins running full with regrowth and late fields complicating schedules. Sorghum and corn are nearly complete; wheat pastures are greening where showers fell. Feeder runs picking up; Panhandle yards monitoring hay stocks, diesel prices, and labor gaps.
- Oklahoma — Cotton progress uneven by district; beans and corn finishing in the north. Winter wheat planting pushes ahead of hoped-for moisture; weaning and sale timing in focus.
- Kansas — Sorghum and late corn wrapping up; wheat seeding advances with subsoil dictating stands. Sale barns are active; placements are steady as fall runs build.
- Nebraska — Corn and soybean harvests accelerate; ethanol and feeders support interior bids. Irrigation shutdowns and propane use ramp up with cooler weather.
- South Dakota & North Dakota — Soybean and corn pace strong; basis firm away from the river. Calf runs build; mixed pasture quality after late dryness.
Midwest
- Iowa — Soybeans lead harvest; corn drying active. Crush and ethanol demand support basis, but propane and drying fuel costs pressure returns.
- Illinois — Beans and corn progress between damp spells; interior basis firmer than river. Fertilizer quotes are sticky; labor shortages slow fieldwork.
- Minnesota & Wisconsin — Corn drying and storage demand intensify; ethanol margins hold firm. Grazing days are shortening; feed costs are rising for livestock.
- Michigan — Corn and soy harvest steady; processing plants competitive. Input prices, especially diesel and fertilizer, remain elevated.
Delta & South
- Arkansas — Rice and soybean harvests are building momentum; barge freight is fluid on the lower Mississippi. Input costs, including phosphates, remain high.
- Louisiana — Rice and soy moving smoothly; poultry and feed demand steady. Labor and transport costs continue to climb.
- Mississippi — Grain harvest on schedule; barge logistics stable. Feed and fuel costs remain elevated.
- Georgia & Alabama — Cotton defoliation and peanut digging are active under dry skies. Pasture conditions fair; input inflation persistent.
- Florida — Trucking costs remain sticky, impacting specialty crop and feed shipments. Vegetable programs are being prepared for the holiday.
West & Southwest
- Arizona & New Mexico — Rangelands showing modest improvement, yet feed and water management remain critical. Livestock operators focused on hay and input logistics.
- Colorado & Utah — Winter wheat seeding started, but soil moisture is short. Diesel and fertilizer costs stretch budgets.
- California — Specialty crop growers face labor and trade headwinds; nut and fruit quality under pressure. Diesel and parts costs top concerns across irrigated regions.
- Nevada — Late-season hay moves continue; water availability shaping 2026 planning.
Northwest & Northern Rockies
- Washington & Oregon — Apple and pear shipments strong; export container space adequate. Diesel and labor costs remain elevated.
- Idaho — Feedlots booking corn amid high prices; rail logistics are reliable. Input inflation is persistent.
- Montana — Hay stacks full; calf shipments moving. Winter wheat seeding is ongoing, but subsoil moisture is tight.
- Wyoming — Harvest season ends; thin basis and steady costs define fall prep.
Northeast
- New York & Pennsylvania — Corn silage mostly wrapped; grain harvest building. Dairy margins tight as fluid sales soften; feed costs high.
- Maryland & Delaware — Soybean harvest expands; barge traffic adequate. Freight costs and diesel surcharges are heavier.
- New Jersey — Vegetable and nursery work winding down; labor and diesel costs still notable.
- New England (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI) — Apple and fall veg sales drive cash flow; greenhouse prep for winter greens underway.
Upper Midwest & Great Lakes
- Michigan — Dry beans, sugar beets, and soybeans share roads; harvest progresses. Dairy is under margin strain with soft retail demand.
- Wisconsin — Harvest momentum continues; basis near feed mills steady. Fuel and fertilizer quotes firm.
- Ohio — Corn and soy wrapping up; local basis stronger inland. River freight is modest under seasonal constraints.
Far North & Territories
- Alaska — Feed and hay shipments are ramping up ahead of winter; shipping bottlenecks are costly. Energy and storage prep dominate planning.
- U.S. Territories — Logistics delays and premium freight persist; small-scale grain and feed movements continue under higher rates.
Related Stories
If the House concurs and the President signs, USDA services and farm-bill programs resume at full speed with authorities extended for another year.
Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, October, 20, 2025.
Pork producers should prioritize health and productivity gains, hedge feed and hogs selectively, and watch Brazil’s export pace and China’s sow policy for price signals.
For tight margins, contract grazing leverages existing acres into new income streams and spreads risk. Here are some tips for row crop farmers looking to diversify.
Texas Cattle Feeders Association Chairman Robby Kirkland explains how the ongoing U.S.-Mexico border closure impacts feed yards that rely on Mexican cattle due to the New World Screwworm.
Global nitrogen and phosphate prices remain high despite improved supply fundamentals, with limited Chinese exports and stronger fall applications tightening availability.
Record output, larger stocks, and softer exports point to a well-supplied domestic ethanol market as harvest progresses.
U.S. sugar producers and processors should brace for price pressure and challenging export logistics with global sugar supply ramping up — driven by Brazil, India, and Thailand — especially at the raw processing level.
The WASDE/Crop Production combo will be the first full read on supply, demand, and yield that could move basis and hedging plans since the government shutdown more than a month ago.
