RFD-TV Weekly Crop Progress and Livestock Production Update

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Heavy rainfall changed the agricultural picture across much of the central and eastern Corn Belt during the latest reporting week, while the southern Plains and parts of the West remained much drier.

Rainfall stretched from Nebraska through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, while drought remained a concern across portions of the Plains and Mountain West. USDA’s newest Crop Progress report for the week ending August 23 will not be released until later Monday, so this recap uses the latest available crop data through August 16, drought information through August 18, and livestock and dairy reports released through August 21.

Great Plains

Kansas: Dryness remained a significant concern, with 60% of topsoil rated short or very short. Corn was 41% dented, ahead of average, but only 42% was rated good or excellent; soybean conditions were stronger, with 54% rated good or excellent. Kansas also posted one of the largest dairy expansions in the country, with July milk production up more than 15% from last year as cow numbers increased sharply.
Nebraska: Rain brought some improvement, especially in eastern areas, but pasture remained heavily stressed with 73% rated poor or very poor before the newest rainfall was fully reflected. Corn was 59% good or excellent and soybeans 63%, while USDA reported Nebraska remained the nation’s second-largest cattle-feeding state with 2.47 million head on feed August 1.
North Dakota: Conditions deteriorated in many areas after another mostly dry week. Only one-third of corn and roughly one-third of soybeans were rated good, with pasture and soil-moisture shortages adding pressure as small grains and other crops approached harvest.
South Dakota: Crop development continued ahead of normal in several categories, but drought remained a major production risk. Nearly half of pasture was poor or very poor, while July milk production increased almost 7% as the state continued expanding dairy cow numbers.
Oklahoma: Heat and dryness continued to stress pasture, sorghum, and cotton. More than three-fourths of topsoil was short or very short, cotton was only 7% good or excellent, and pasture was 51% poor or very poor, keeping livestock forage and water supplies under pressure.
Texas: Dry weather remained the dominant agricultural concern, with 83% of topsoil short or very short. Cotton was only 21% good or excellent, although crop development continued, while Texas remained the nation’s largest cattle-feeding state and July milk production increased more than 4% from last year.

Midwest

Iowa: Heavy rainfall reduced fieldwork but improved moisture across much of the state. Corn remained comparatively strong at 78% good or excellent and soybeans at the same level, while 17% of topsoil was rated surplus after widespread rain.
Illinois: Heavy rainfall, including more than five inches in portions of central Illinois, sharply reduced fieldwork and increased surplus moisture. Corn stood at 59% good or excellent and soybeans at 59%, while July milk production increased modestly from last year.
Indiana: Some areas received extraordinary rainfall, with eastern Indiana reporting more than a foot during the week. Fieldwork dropped to fewer than two suitable days, but the moisture removed remaining drought concerns; corn was 61% good or excellent and soybeans 61%.
Missouri: Crop conditions remained relatively favorable, with corn 66% good or excellent, soybeans 59%, and cotton exceptionally strong at 86% good or excellent. Missouri rice was also ahead of its normal heading pace, while pasture remained among the region’s stronger ratings.

Delta & South

Arkansas: Soybeans remained 68% good or excellent and rice development stayed ahead of average, with harvest beginning in some fields. However, severe soil-moisture shortages persisted, with 81% of topsoil rated short or very short and nearly half of pasture poor or very poor.
Louisiana: Rice harvest continued advancing and soybeans were nearly completely podded, but dryness remained a concern. Three-quarters of topsoil was short or very short, putting additional pressure on pastures and later-season crops despite favorable rice progress.
Mississippi: Soybeans remained one of the stronger crops, with 66% good or excellent, while rice was fully headed and harvest activity had started. Cotton development continued to lag its normal boll-setting pace, and nearly 70% of topsoil was short or very short.
Alabama: Cotton and peanuts remained generally favorable, with cotton 77% good or excellent and peanuts 71%. Moisture was considerably better than farther west in the Delta, supporting pasture and livestock conditions.
Georgia: Peanut development was essentially complete and crop condition remained mostly favorable, but roughly half of subsoil moisture was short or very short. Cotton was 61% good or excellent, and July milk production increased almost 5% from last year.
Florida: Peanuts remained overwhelmingly in good condition, while pastures were mixed after variable rainfall. Dairy production increased nearly 6% from a year ago as both cow numbers and output per cow improved.
Tennessee: Corn and soybeans continued developing ahead of normal, with corn particularly strong at 80% good or excellent. Cotton boll development also ran ahead of average, although some areas remained short of soil moisture.
Kentucky: Heavy rain improved moisture across eastern portions of the state and eliminated drought classifications there. Corn and soybeans remained strong, with more than 70% of each crop rated good or excellent, while pasture conditions also stayed favorable.
North Carolina: Corn remained under significant stress, with nearly half rated poor or very poor, while soybeans and cotton were substantially stronger. Peanut conditions were especially favorable, with more than 80% rated good or excellent.
South Carolina: Cotton and peanuts remained mostly fair to good as growers dealt with localized dryness. Nearly 40% of topsoil was short or very short, keeping pasture and later-season crop moisture needs elevated.
Virginia: Cotton remained largely good despite modest soil-moisture shortages, and peanuts were 76% good or excellent. July milk production also increased nearly 3% from last year.

West & Southwest

Arizona: Monsoon rainfall helped some areas, but pasture remained stressed, with more than half rated poor or very poor. Cotton conditions were comparatively strong, and July milk production rose nearly 4% from last year.
California: Cotton continued to rate exceptionally well, with 90% excellent, while rice heading ran ahead of normal. Dairy output slipped about 1% from last year despite California remaining the nation’s largest milk-producing state.
Colorado: Rain provided some drought improvement in eastern areas, but agricultural stress remained severe. More than half of corn and sorghum rated poor or very poor, pasture was 72% poor or very poor, while dairy production increased about 4%.
New Mexico: Extremely dry soils continued limiting range and forage production, with 84% of topsoil short or very short and nearly 60% of pasture poor or very poor. Dairy production was only slightly above last year, showing much less expansion than neighboring Texas.
Nevada: Monsoon moisture offered localized relief, but range conditions remained weak. Two-thirds of topsoil was short or very short, keeping irrigation and livestock forage concerns elevated.
Utah: Soil moisture remained limited, although pasture conditions were somewhat better than several neighboring states. July milk production increased about 1% from last year as the dairy herd remained slightly larger.

Northwest & Northern Rockies

Idaho: Dryness continued to affect pasture and non-irrigated ground, with 60% of topsoil short or very short. Dairy remained an important bright spot, with July milk production up just over 2% as cow numbers increased.
Montana: Range and soil moisture remained under significant stress despite scattered rainfall. Nearly three-fourths of pasture was fair or worse, and 74% of topsoil was short or very short, raising concerns for late-season forage and small-grain harvest conditions.
Oregon: Dryness remained pronounced, with 86% of topsoil short or very short. July milk production, however, increased more than 6% from last year as the dairy cow herd expanded.
Washington: Fieldwork continued largely uninterrupted under dry conditions, with 58% of topsoil short or very short. July milk production declined 2%, reflecting fewer cows and slightly lower production per cow.
Wyoming: Drought remained severe across much of the state, with 87% of topsoil short or very short. Pasture and range conditions remained among the weakest nationally, maintaining pressure on cattle forage and stock-water supplies.

Northeast

Connecticut: Moisture remained generally adequate, but pasture quality was mixed after summer heat. Fieldwork proceeded without significant interruption during the latest reporting week.
Delaware: Dry soils remained an issue, with nearly one-third of topsoil short or very short and pasture conditions under pressure. Row crops and specialty crops continued advancing with adequate fieldwork time.
Maine: Soil moisture tightened during the week, with nearly half of topsoil short or very short. Pasture conditions were mixed, putting attention on forage availability as producers move toward late-summer harvest.
Maryland: Topsoil moisture remained mostly adequate, but deeper soil moisture was much tighter, with more than half of subsoil rated short. Pasture conditions reflected that longer-term dryness.
Massachusetts: Topsoil moisture remained mostly adequate, although deeper moisture reserves were more limited. Pasture conditions were roughly split between fair and good, with no widespread severe deterioration reported.
New Hampshire: Pasture remained exceptionally strong, with 95% rated good. Soil-moisture supplies also remained generally adequate, supporting hay and forage production.
New Jersey: Dryness continued in portions of the state, but nearly two-thirds of pasture remained good. Specialty crop harvest and field activities benefited from a full week of suitable fieldwork.
New York: Crop and pasture conditions remained generally favorable, with more than 70% of pasture good or excellent. July milk production increased about 2%, supported by a larger dairy herd and slightly higher output per cow.
Pennsylvania: Corn remained one of the strongest nationally, with 89% good or excellent, while soil moisture was mostly adequate. Dairy production was unchanged from last year, with fewer cows offset by higher production per cow.
Rhode Island: Moisture supplies remained adequate, and pasture was evenly divided between fair and good. Dry field conditions allowed uninterrupted harvest and other farm work.
Vermont: Soil moisture was unusually tight, particularly topsoil, despite pasture remaining mostly fair to good. July milk production was unchanged from last year, with cow numbers holding steady.
West Virginia: Heavy rainfall reduced fieldwork but substantially improved moisture. More than one-fifth of topsoil was rated surplus, supporting pasture and forage after earlier summer dryness.

Upper Midwest & Great Lakes

Michigan: Corn remained 58% good or excellent, but soybeans were weaker at 49%, while deeper soil moisture remained limited in many areas. July milk production rose about 3% as cow numbers increased.
Minnesota: Crop development moved rapidly, with corn dough and soybean pod-setting well ahead of average. Drought remained a concern for forage, however, and July milk production increased nearly 4% with a larger dairy herd.
Ohio: Heavy rainfall dramatically improved moisture and eliminated remaining abnormal dryness. Corn was 66% good or excellent and soybeans 61%, although excessive rain left more than half of topsoil rated surplus and temporarily halted much fieldwork.
Wisconsin: Corn and soybeans remained about two-thirds good or excellent, while soil moisture was generally adequate despite some dry areas. July milk production increased nearly 3% to 2.85 billion pounds, keeping Wisconsin firmly second nationally behind California.

Far North, Hawaii & U.S. Territories

Alaska: USDA’s current agricultural overview lists about 6,000 acres of barley planted for 2026 and about 23,000 acres of hay expected for harvest. No major new weekly NASS crop or livestock release was issued for Alaska during the reporting window, so producers remain focused on the short remaining harvest season for forage and small grains.
Hawaii: No new weekly NASS production report was issued for the state, where agriculture remains centered on cattle and specialty crops including coffee, macadamia nuts, papayas and avocados. USDA’s latest available state overview shows a cattle inventory of about 135,000 head entering 2026.
Puerto Rico: USDA did not publish a new weekly island crop-condition report during the period covered by this recap. Coffee, livestock, tropical fruit, and other specialty production remain the primary sectors to watch as the Atlantic hurricane season moves deeper into its most active period.