NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — This week, producers across the country balanced winter weather disruptions, shifting export demand, and tightening margins as year-end decisions come into focus. Ice, flooding, and low water reshaped grain movement, while livestock and dairy markets sent mixed signals heading into the final weeks of 2025.
Great Plains
- Texas — Cotton harvest winds down across the High Plains; gins are managing throughput amid cold snaps. Wheat stands mixed under dry La Niña patterns; feeder demand firm as hay and diesel remain watch points.
- Oklahoma — Wheat pasture limited by moisture; fall calves moving steadily. Input pricing and freight costs guide winter planning.
- Kansas — Wheat seeded; emergence uneven where moisture was missed. Interior corn basis supported by export pace; feedyards are active.
- Nebraska — Corn and soybean movement steady; ethanol demand supportive. Propane and rail availability monitored amid cold.
- North & South Dakota — Harvest complete; basis stronger away from the river. Calf runs seasonally strong with feed availability shaping bids.
Midwest
- Iowa — River ice slows barge options; rail picks up slack. Ethanol production at record levels supports corn demand despite tight margins.
- Illinois — Illinois River ice requires couplings; interior basis firmer than the Gulf. Fertilizer pricing is sticky.
- Minnesota & Wisconsin — Corn movement steady; dairy margins tightening as milk prices slide. Feed costs are rising.
- Michigan — Processing demand supports grain; fuel costs ease slightly.
Delta & South
- Arkansas — Soybeans and rice largely wrapped up; barge flow uneven but functional.
- Louisiana — Export loadings are active despite fewer vessels; freight costs remain elevated.
- Mississippi — Grain movement steady; logistics monitored amid river levels.
- Georgia & Alabama — Cotton harvest finishing; peanuts mostly complete. Input inflation persists.
- Florida — Trucking costs remain a concern for specialty crops and feed.
West & Southwest
- Arizona & New Mexico — Forage and water planning dominate winter outlooks.
- Colorado & Utah — Wheat stands variable; diesel and fertilizer costs pressure budgets.
- California — Specialty crop growers face labor and trade headwinds; logistics costs remain top concern.
- Nevada — Hay movement slows seasonally; water planning extends into 2026.
Northwest & Northern Rockies
- Washington & Oregon — Flooding briefly disrupted rail access to export terminals; service restored. Grain inspections remain above average.
- Idaho — Rail movement steady; feedlots managing corn costs.
- Montana — Hay supplies adequate; wheat acres monitored under dry conditions.
- Wyoming — Winter logistics and feed access in focus.
Northeast
- New York & Pennsylvania — Dairy producers reassessing risk management as milk prices fall. Feed and energy costs guide winter budgets.
- Maryland & Delaware — Soybean movement steady; freight costs remain elevated.
- New England — Specialty crop sales support cash flow; winter energy planning underway.
Upper Midwest & Great Lakes
- Michigan — Sugar beets, dry beans, and soybeans share transport lanes; dairy margins are strained.
- Wisconsin — Basis steady near feed mills; fuel relief modest.
- Ohio — Corn and soy mostly complete; inland basis stronger than river.
Far North & Territories
- Alaska — Feed and fuel shipments critical ahead of deep winter; freight costs elevated.
- U.S. Territories — Logistics delays persist; small-scale ag continues under high transport premiums.
Related Stories
While short-term volatility remains a risk, softer ocean freight rates in 2026 could improve export margins.
Trade volatility and shifting export destinations increase marketing risk for producers heading into 2026.
EXCLUSIVE: Texas Lawmakers Weigh USMCA’s Relevance and What Renegotiation Could Mean for Agriculture
RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey speaks with Texas’s Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez about USMCA renegotiation and its impact on U.S.–Mexico agriculture trade.
Rising rural business confidence supports local ag economies, but taxes and labor shortages remain key constraints.
The Midland County Junior Livestock Show in West Texas features a competitive steer showcase highlighting top-quality cattle and the accomplishments of driven youth exhibitors.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer discusses how January’s WASDE report could impact ARC and PLC payments and updates on disaster relief programs as farmers navigate a challenging market environment.
National Corn Growers Association Chief Economist Krista Swanson discusses corn supply pressures, market fundamentals, policy considerations, and producer outlook for the year ahead.
The proposal signals a renewed push to offset tariff-driven losses, stabilize nutrition programs, and broaden eligibility for farm aid, though its path forward will depend on congressional negotiations.
The application deadline is March 8, 2026. The 1890 National Scholars Program aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences.
