Western Maryland
As the days get shorter and the evenings brisk, the harvest season is just about finished. Still, some late-planted corn and double-crop soybeans are standing, but they will soon fall to the combine. Wheat, barley, triticale, and other cover crops have enjoyed the recent showers, and carpets of green now cover once barren harvested fields. Once the final tally is made, I suspect we will have had an average year, whatever that is. We have seen some good yields, and we have seen fields where the only reason the combine traverses the field is for a crop insurance calculation. As with every year before, most will put another log on the fire, sip some coffee, and pray for a better year in 2026. Farmers are the most optimistic lot on earth. Enjoy the holidays with family and friends. We will see you next season.—Jeff Semler, Washington Co.
Central Maryland
Corn and soybean harvest is complete. Sorghum harvest is almost complete. Some cover crops and small grains have been planted. We have gotten some rain this past week (up to half an inch); however, most of the region is still in a moderate drought.—Kelly Nichols, Montgomery Co.
Northern Maryland
Harvest ‘25 is all but finished; only a few acres of corn and some double crop soybeans remain. Corn yields were very strong despite some fairly significant disease pressure. Some instances of plants falling apart and lodging, but overall it was a big crop and a smooth harvest. Full season soybeans did not fare as well, likely due to the very dry August; however, double crop beans are yielding very well as they received September rain. Cover crop and small grain establishment looks very good, setting us up for great yield potential going into 2026.—Andy Kness, Harford Co.
Upper & Mid Shore
Corn and soybean harvests are just about wrapped up across the region, and most growers are reporting good to excellent yields. Wheat and cover crops planted this fall are off to a solid start, with decent moisture helping them establish well. The rains should help them put on enough root mass to overwinter effectively. Overall, this season treated us much better than last year, and hopefully we keep moving in the right direction heading into next year. All we can do now is hope.—Dwayne Joseph, Kent Co.
Lower Eastern Shore
Grain harvest is finishing earlier than typical, largely due to the dry weather this fall. Corn is approximately 90% harvested, and soybean 70%. Corn and soybean yields are average to below average, likely due to the droughts over the summer. Cover crops have been planted and are coming up nicely. Wheat has also been planted and off to a good start.—Sarah Hirsh, Somerset Co.
Southern Maryland
Most corn is off and farmers are working on finishing double crop bean harvest. Cover crop is in and looks good. Here is a recap of the 2025 season here in Southern Maryland. The area finally received a cold winter with a number of days in the single digits in January of 2025. Spring arrived with very good initial planting conditions. Rains slowed planting progress as we moved into May. Some areas never dried out, making for late planted corn and beans. We ended up with a split planting season- some early planted crops and many late. Striped rust on wheat made an appearance in late May. The wheat crop came off fast this year with excellent yields and good quality, though prices limited profitability. The region experienced a string of high temperatures towards the end of June and into July that stressed crops. Fortunately, the heat came with rain showers in time for pollination. Both beans and corn looked good entering the dog days of summer in late July. However as often is the case, the rains stopped with minimal precipitation throughout August and the first weeks of September. We received rains again in time for the County fair, but unfortunately much damage had already been done. Corn fared better than beans with reported yield at or above average. Beans made a lot of pods but just didn’t have the water to fill out. Double crop beans may out yield full season beans this year. The region had a good hay and pasture growth this year, with many opportunities to make good quality hay. On the vegetable front, the year turned out decent. Tomatoes struggled the most with the heat and intermittent rains causing issues with fruit set and quality resulting and very limited tomato stock in July and August. Peppers, watermelons, sweet corn, and other crops fared better. The cooler fall resulted in good catch up yields on most vegetable crops. The region had a phenomenal pumpkin season with great yields and quality.—Ben Beale, St. Mary’s Co.
*Regions (counties):
Western: Garrett, Allegany, Washington. Central: Frederick, Montgomery, Howard. Northern: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll. Upper & Mid Shore: Cecil, Kent, Caroline, Queen Anne, Talbot. Lower Shore: Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico. Southern: St. Mary’s, Anne Arundel, Charles, Calvert, Prince George’s
