U.S. Crop Progress and Agribusiness Update: U.S. Farmers Face Shifting Yields, Harvest, Market Changes

RFD-TV Markets Expert Tony St. James breaks down the state of agribusiness and harvest progress across each region of the United States for the week of Monday, September 22, 2025.

Crop Progress Graphic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV)—Here’s a look across U.S. agriculture and business industries 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.

———

Delta & South

Alabama, Georgia, Florida

Peanut and cotton harvesting is underway where conditions permit. Florida’s citrus and specialty crops are being impacted by shifts in trade and changes in import/export policies.

Arkansas

Agriculture Secretary Rollins visited, stating that the USDA is evaluating additional aid for farmers amid low prices and high input costs, particularly for cotton and row crops.

Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee & Virginia

Tobacco harvest and burley operations are wrapping up; soybean harvest is picking up pace. Some local pests and leaf diseases linger in humid areas.

Louisiana & Mississippi

Late-season rainstorms continue to hamper the drying down of crops. Rice harvests are encountering moisture-related quality issues. Livestock producers are watching feed and labor costs.

———

Great Plains

Kansas

Seasonal dryness is delaying the maturation of some corn and soybeans, particularly in southwestern counties. Meanwhile, wheat planting has begun in earnest with reports of early germination due to recent rainfall, offering some relief.

Nebraska

Corn harvest is underway in some southern and central counties. Dry weather has aided field work, but concerns persist about yield losses from diseases in wetter areas earlier this season.

Oklahoma

Soybeans and cotton are mostly mature; however, rainfall has been spotty, leading to uneven quality in late-planted soybeans. Wheat seeding has begun in southern Oklahoma under favorable soil moisture, but ongoing heat may threaten new stands.

South Dakota & North Dakota

Harvest of corn and soybeans is progressing slowly. Northern areas see moisture logging and frost risk, while southern parts benefit from improved conditions but anticipate some quality challenges.

Texas

Harvest is ramping up for corn and sorghum, though dry spots in West Texas and the Panhandle are causing some stress to late-season fields. Ranchers report feed costs remain elevated amid tight forage supplies from previous drought impacts.

———

Midwest

Illinois

Temperatures have cooled, and rainfall remains low—southern Illinois continues to face very dry conditions, with little relief in sight. The fall harvest is building, though yield forecasts have slipped slightly.

Indiana & Ohio

The corn harvest is advancing; some reports of stalk lodging have been noted from earlier storms. Soybeans are maturing well, though scattered rainfall has created inconsistencies in pod fill.

Iowa

Dry weather has reduced disease pressure and allowed earlier combines; however, late fills in some corn ears still lag expectations. Soybean quality is strong overall.

Michigan, Minnesota & Wisconsin

Northern regions are experiencing earlier frosts, which is putting pressure on unharvested crops, particularly corn. Farther south, fields are progressing but are slightly behind long-term averages.

Missouri

Mixed outlook. Southern counties are reporting good conditions, while northern counties are dealing with variable moisture and delayed maturity in some corn and soybean fields.

———

Northeast

Most states in the New England region are reporting little major ag news; harvest is near the end for most field crops. Some leaf diseases remain in wetter soil zones.

Delaware, Maryland & New Jersey

Vegetables and specialty crops are heading toward the end of the season. Some pest pressure has been noted; the tomato harvest is winding down.

New York & Pennsylvania

Dairy producers are reporting higher feed costs, which are cutting into margins; the corn silage harvest is underway, with mixed moisture levels. Some rain is aiding soil recharge.

———

Northwest/Northern Rockies

Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

Barley and wheat production has mostly wrapped up; concerns remain over early snow in high-elevation zones that could damage still-unharvested forage. Livestock operations are watching feed availability.

Washington & Oregon

Apple and pear harvests are nearly complete; recent warm spells boosted sugar content but also stressed water supplies in eastern orchards. Wheat harvest in eastern WA is nearing its end.

———

West & Southwest

California

Specialty crops continue to face pressure from both labor constraints and trade exposure. Some vegetable harvests are finishing early, while the quality of nuts and fruit is expected to suffer from heat stress.

Colorado, Utah & Nevada

Dry, warm conditions persist. Irrigated crops are holding up better; rain shortages are stressing non-irrigated acreage. Fall wheat planting in parts of Utah is underway with cautious optimism.

New Mexico & Arizona

Monsoon wrap-up yields mixed results; high humidity in some areas slowed maturation. Rangeland conditions are improving, but livestock operations are still experiencing the effects of prolonged drought, particularly in terms of feed availability.

Related Stories
The New World Screwworm case was detected roughly 119 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border — at nearly the same latitude as Zapata, Texas.
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.
The annual event brings together vintage equipment, live demos and thousands of visitors.
Accessing land is one of the biggest challenges facing the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

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:

NRECA CEO Jim Matheson joins us to discuss rural electric co-ops’ push for expanded USDA loan programs, rising energy demand from data center expansion, wildfire mitigation and other policy priorities impacting rural power infrastructure.
Farmland outlook is tracking closely with producer confidence, investment appetite, and financial expectations.
StoneX’s Josh Linville discusses USDA’s efforts to boost domestic fertilizer production and his outlook on supply and prices.
With the Farm Bill now in the Senate’s hands, industry groups say the stakes are high—and timely action could be critical for producers navigating a difficult economic environment.
The Texas Department of Agriculture confirmed a New World Screwworm case about 119 miles from the Texas border, near Zapata, Texas, and north and west of the Rio Grande Valley.
Landowners interested in protecting working ground through an easement now have another funding window open until the end of May.