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
Before you turn the calendar to 2025, take a few moments to think through a few important tax planning matters for your farm or ranch.
Legal issues can arise for farmers and ranchers when conducting business informally or in another state. RFD-TV Ag Law & Tax Expert Roger McEowen explores both topics in his latest Firm to Farm blog post.
RFD-TV ag law and tax expert Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law dives into common disputes over boundaries and conflicting surveys in agriculture.
Key legal & tax insights for farmers, like accumulated earnings tax, using 401(k) to start farming, ag data in court, and maximizing farm home-sale exclusions when selling your farm.
A U.S. Federal District Court upheld an Arizona rancher’s legal complaint against the Biden Administration’s decision to halt construction on a U.S.-Mexico border wall violated environmental law and the plaintiff’s property rights.
In his latest Firm to Farm blog post, Ag Legal & Taxation Expert Roger McEowen examines contracts, insurance, and property rights and how those legal processes can impact your farm or ranch operation.
