The latest USDA Crop Progress report shows soybean harvest ahead of the five-year average, while corn harvest is gaining ground, now only three points behind average pace. Multiple rounds of rain and thunderstorms this week could slow fieldwork in parts of the Plains and Midwest, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick. Baranick notes the delay should be brief for farmers, bringing needed moisture to winter crops and pasture and forage acres.

With corn and soybean harvests wrapping up in much of the country, Farm Journal field agronomist Ken Ferrie says the next step toward better yields starts right now. In this AgWeb article, Ferrie breaks down the 7-step process he and his Crop-Tech consulting staff use for a strong post-harvest field analysis.

With midterm elections set for Tuesday and 22 agricultural voices leaving Congress, Farm Journal identified at least 48 new candidates with ties to ag on the ballot across both parties, including 26 Democrats and 22 Republicans. 43 are running for the U.S.

Rhode Island grower Ron Wallace has set a new world record with a 3,156-pound giant pumpkin, the first ever to top 3,000 pounds.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the United States is finalizing a trade agreement with Mexico that could expand U.S. ethanol exports by 32%.

The latest USDA Crop Progress Report shows the corn harvest is still behind the five-year average, while favorable weather has pushed soybean harvest slightly ahead of the pace. Scattered showers and mostly above-normal temperatures should keep fieldwork disruptions minor this week, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

Released this past Friday, the USDA's October Cattle on Feed report showed September feedlot placements down 12.1% from a year ago, marking a record low for the month and the third straight monthly record low. October 1 cattle on feed inventory came in 0.4% below last year and fed cattle marketings fell 6.6% over the same period last year, also the lowest for September since the report started in 1996.

This past week, the Trump Administration and the USDA announced $573 million in grants for eight new U.S.-based fertilizer facilities under the FIELDS Program. Together, the eight projects represent more than $1.34 billion in investment across as many as 18 states.

Here's an end-of-week look at what's moving the cattle market, from fed cattle price reporting to border reopenings and risk management tips for fall cattle purchases.

On Monday, President Trump and the USDA announced a new $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief program to provide temporary relief amid record-high diesel and input costs. Agriculture Secretary Rollins said details will go out to producers in November, and payments are scheduled to arrive in January.