With winter mostly behind us, farmers are preparing to take to the field for planting season.
One meteorologist says that farmers in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio will likely face a very active pattern this month leading into April.
BAM Weather consultant Bret Walts says that many Midwest farmers may be hard-pressed to find consistent dry periods to get into the fields.
The Climate Prediction Center backs that, showing above-average changes for precipitation for the eastern Corn Belt on both the one and three-month outlooks.
However, moving farther west, things look drier. States like Nebraska, South Dakota, western Iowa, and Oklahoma anticipate worsening drought conditions.
Related Stories
Read the full press release published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Farmer Bridge Assistance payments provide immediate balance-sheet support heading into 2026, but remain a short-term bridge rather than a substitute for long-term market recovery.
Record yields are cushioning production declines, but softer prices underscore the importance of cost control and market timing for vegetable growers.
Strong global demand and falling stocks suggest continued price volatility for U.S. coffee buyers despite record world production.
Fewer acres and stronger prices suggest disciplined hop production is supporting market balance despite lower output.
Benchmark machinery costs against those of similar-sized, high-performing operations to inform equipment and investment decisions.