NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD NEWS) — Producers across the country navigated mixed weather, tightening margins, and shifting logistics this week as spring preparation advanced unevenly. Livestock strength, transportation activity, and input uncertainty remained key themes across regions.
Great Plains
- Kansas: Dry conditions supported early fieldwork while cattle markets remained strong. Producers monitored fertilizer volatility tied to global disruptions.
- Oklahoma: Livestock producers reported favorable feeding conditions, though drought concerns linger in western counties.
- Texas: Cotton regions prepared for planting amid rising input scrutiny and ongoing concerns about fertilizer pricing, while feedlots remained active.
- Nebraska: Calving progressed steadily with stable feed supplies and supportive cattle prices.
Midwest
- Iowa: Corn and soybean planting advanced with stable soil moisture, while ethanol demand continued to support corn fundamentals.
- Illinois: Machinery purchases remained cautious amid weak margins, though lenders reported manageable credit conditions overall.
- Indiana: Farmland values held firm despite tightening liquidity and softer income outlooks.
- Missouri: Mixed moisture conditions left some producers waiting for warmer weather to advance spring progress.
Delta & South
- Arkansas: Rice and soybean growers prepared fields amid improving weather and steady export demand signals.
- Mississippi: Cotton and grain operations tracked soil conditions while input costs remained a concern.
- Louisiana: Early planting interest grew in southern areas as river logistics improved.
- Alabama & Georgia: Poultry remained steady while row crop producers monitored fertilizer costs.
West & Southwest
- California: Specialty crop producers balanced irrigation planning with labor and water cost pressures.
- Arizona & New Mexico: Dry conditions aided fieldwork, though water concerns persisted.
Northwest & Northern Rockies
- Washington & Oregon: Wheat producers tracked moisture conditions while export channels remained active.
- Idaho & Montana: Livestock operations reported stable winter feeding with gradual seasonal transitions.
Northeast
- Pennsylvania & New York: Dairy remained steady with feed supplies adequate, though margins stayed tight.
- Vermont: Maple season progressed with variable weather affecting runs.
Upper Midwest & Great Lakes
- Minnesota: Grain producers prepared for planting while livestock margins stayed favorable.
- Wisconsin: Dairy producers balanced feed costs and milk prices while fieldwork approached.
- Michigan: Fruit growers monitored winterkill risks and soil readiness.
Far North & Territories
- Alaska: Livestock operations managed winter feed logistics with stable supply conditions.
Related Stories
USDA’s February WASDE report, analysts expect minimal price movement as grain stocks remain steady. Traders weigh renewed Chinese soybean purchases, South American weather, acreage shifts, and upcoming USMCA trade talks.
RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey was in Mission, Texas, where state and federal officials addressed growers and producers at a round table event hosted at a citrus grower’s facility. He shows us how welcome news was all around.
A transition from traditional, technology-specific subsidies toward a performance-based, technology-neutral framework
Lower freight costs helped sustain export demand amid a challenging pricing environment.
Producers across the country spent the week balancing spring planning with tight margins and uneven moisture outlooks. Input purchasing stayed cautious, while marketing and cash-flow decisions remained front and center for many operations.
Income support helps, but farm finances remain tight heading into 2026.
