National Crop Progress and Agribusiness Update - Monday, October 6, 2025

Harvest Builds As Logistics And Input Costs Shape Fall Decisions

Crop Progress Graphic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV)NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Here is a look across U.S. agriculture this week, highlighting harvest pace, crop conditions, market signals, and policy developments affecting farmers. Reports are organized regionally for a clear snapshot of the week’s agricultural landscape.

Great Plains

  • Texas — Cotton picking expands west and south; sorghum/late-corn wrap. Cow-calf marketing steady; wheat pasture prospects improve where moisture hits.
  • Oklahoma — Cotton progress varies by district; winter wheat planting pushes hard ahead of hoped-for moisture. Weaning and market timing in focus.
  • Kansas — Sorghum and late-corn 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 bids. Backgrounders manage fall transitions and water availability.
  • South Dakota & North Dakota — Soy and corn harvest pace picks up; basis firmer away from river terminals. Calf runs increase; pasture quality varies after late-season dryness in some areas.

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.
  • 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).

Delta & South

  • Arkansas — Rice and soy expand with selective drying; river logistics push some grain to rail/interior users. Cotton picking is accelerating.
  • Louisiana & Mississippi — Cane harvest steps up (LA) and rice/beans move between showers; poultry steady. River tightness nudges truck/rail.
  • Alabama, Georgia, Florida — Peanuts and cotton advance; vegetables stage for holiday programs with tight labor/logistics (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 up; 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 vegetables are available 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 storage fill (ID); beets advance. Winter wheat planting continues with variable moisture; calves ship with freight as the swing factor.

Northeast

  • New York & Pennsylvania — Corn silage essentially wrapped; grain harvest building. Dairy farmers adjust rations and bedding as nights cool; feed and energy costs are a primary 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.

Far North & U.S. 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
National Corn Growers First VP Matt Frostic joins us to discuss their 62nd annual yield contest, the new short-season corn pilot class, and what farmers can expect as the season gets underway.
Industry leaders gather in Mexico City to strengthen trade and showcase product quality.
HTS Commodities broker Lewis Williamson joins us to break down the latest USDA Crop Progress Report and how weather and global supply chain issues could influence planting conditions moving forward.
Favorable weather and hard work are leading to high strawberry yields and steady crowds at Green Acres Farm, a u-pick destination in Cochran, Georgia.
The USDA’s annual report leaves dairy producers with a mixed picture. Output and herd size expanded, but weaker prices kept income from rising with production.
Total cash receipts from marketings of cattle, calves, hogs, and pigs climbed by 18% in 2025 to $165 billion.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

William Lee Golden joined us to talk about his farming roots, his storied career with the Oak Ridge Boys, and how his new book and music continue to reflect the values that have guided him throughout his life and career.
Glyphosate and phosphorus are deemed critical to U.S. national defense, ensuring farmers’ access while signaling a shift toward regenerative agriculture. RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney shares insight on the Trump Administration’s move and what it could mean for U.S. farmers moving forward.
Claire Woeppel, Central Region Vice President with the National FFA Organization, joined us to discuss Alumni Day, the lasting impact of FFA supporters, and why honoring that legacy matters during National FFA Week.
UNL Extension’s Troy Walz discusses the Nebraska Ranch Practicum, where sessions are held, how producers can get involved, and what ranchers can gain from participating in the program.
The Ranger Road Fire in the Oklahoma Panhandle is now 65% contained after burning nearly 300,000 acres over the past week. Kevin Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance Agency discusses wildfire recovery, livestock insurance considerations, and the importance of preparedness for producers across the Southern Plains.
Ag leaders say President Donald Trump’s State of the Union is unlikely to spark major agriculture headlines, but ongoing tariff uncertainty and trade policy remain key concerns, as does the debate around glyphosate and the status of the next Farm Bill.