NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture this week.
General Notes:
U.S. corn harvest was widely estimated near the mid-40 percent range as of last week; soybeans trailed but were accelerating — consistent with a typical late-October pace.
Lower Mississippi and adjacent waterways continue to see operational constraints (draft limits, tow size reductions), affecting barge velocity and basis near river terminals.
Great Plains
- Texas — Cotton picking expands in the High Plains and Rolling Plains; sorghum and late corn wind down. Wheat pasture prospects improve where scattered moisture hit; cow-calf marketing steady.
- Oklahoma — Cotton progress varies by district; winter wheat seeding pushes ahead of hoped-for moisture. Weaning timing and placements in focus with feeder demand steady.
- Kansas — Late corn and sorghum finish; winter wheat seeding advances with subsoil moisture dictating stands. Cattle placements steady with fall runs.
- Nebraska — Corn/soy harvest gathers speed; ethanol and feeders support interior bids. Backgrounders manage fall transitions and water availability.
- South Dakota & North Dakota — Soy and corn harvest pick up; basis firmer away from river terminals. Calf runs increase; pasture quality variable after late-season dryness.
Midwest
- Iowa — Soy leads harvest; corn follows as dryers fire up. Local crush and feeders compete while the river movement stays cautious.
- Illinois — Beans and corn roll between damp spells; river basis soft on draft limits, interior bids firmer. Fall NH3 booking steady.
- Indiana & Ohio — Combines hit more soy first; corn moisture easing. Wheat seeding follows bean harvest on fit soils; the processor vs. river basis bifurcates.
- Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan — Soy/corn advance as temps allow; sugarbeets and dry beans (MI) active. Early freezes a watch item in northern tiers; dairy eyeing feed and energy.
- Missouri — Soy/corn accelerate; river basis softer where tow restrictions bite. Cow-calf weaning decisions shaped by mixed hay quality.
Delta & South
- Arkansas — Rice and soy expand with selective drying; cotton picking is accelerating. Some grain was rerouted to rail/interior users as river logistics stay tight.
- Louisiana & Mississippi — Cane (LA) steps up; rice/beans move between showers; poultry steady. River tightness nudges more truck/rail.
- Alabama, Georgia, Florida — Peanuts and cotton advance; vegetables stage for holiday programs with tight labor/logistics in FL. Poultry supports in-state feed use.
- Kentucky & Tennessee — Tobacco curing wraps; soy/cotton harvest builds. River vs. interior bids diverge; cattle receipts rise with fall runs.
- North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia — Peanuts/cotton progress; sweet potatoes lift (NC). Poultry/hogs steady; small-grain seeding follows on fit ground.
West & Southwest
- Arizona & New Mexico — Desert veg ramps; dairies/feedlots monitor inputs as nights cool. Chile/pecan/hay work continues (NM).
- Colorado, Utah, Nevada — Corn silage wraps; grain corn and beets advance (CO). Final alfalfa cuttings in UT/NV; winter water and feed planning front-and-center.
- California — Sacramento Valley rice harvest advances; almonds/walnuts/pistachios move through hulling. Labor and freight remain primary constraints; coastal veg in shoulder-season windows.
Northwest & Northern Rockies
- Washington & Oregon — Apples/pears in full swing; post-harvest wheat moving to export channels. Hay trade favors top dairy tests in eastern districts.
- Idaho, Montana, Wyoming — Potatoes lift and storages fill (ID); beets advance. Winter wheat planting continues with variable moisture; calves ship with freight, the swing factor
Northeast
- New York & Pennsylvania — Corn silage largely wrapped; grain harvest building. Dairy adjusts rations and bedding as nights cool; feed and energy costs in focus.
- New England (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI) — Apples and fall direct-market vegetables drive cash flow; greenhouses/tunnels prep for winter greens. Livestock owners line up hay and bedding.
- New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland — Soy harvest expanding; small-grain seeding follows. Poultry integrators steady; litter and propane plans set for fall.
Upper Midwest & Great Lakes
- Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin — Soy first, corn close behind; lake-effect showers the wild card. Basis steady-to-firm away from river constraints; sugarbeet campaigns active (MI/WI).
Far North & Territories
- Alaska — Root crops and greenhouse produce wind down; storage quality and energy costs dominate winter prep.
- Puerto Rico — Coffee harvest care and storm readiness in parallel; dairy margins hinge on feed and energy
Related Stories
RFD-TV agricultural law and taxation expert Roger McEowen discusses issues concerning farmers and ranchers, such as trade vs. business, income tax basis, croppers, and like-kind exchanges.
In his latest Firm to Farm blog post, Roger McEowen discusses the new EPA/COE clarifications concerning WOTUS. The new measures have important implications for farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners.
Agricultural irrigation return flow exemption and “Maui factors” are the topics of today’s Firm to Farm blog post by RFD-TV ag tax and legal expert Roger McEowen with Kansas’ Washburn School of Law.
RFD-TV Ag Law & Tax Expert Roger McEowen outlines the top ten agricultural law and taxation topics from 2024 that will impact farmers and ranchers the most in 2025.
