Fall 2025 Newsletter - Harvest Update & Looking Ahead
The first soybeans of the 2025 harvest season.
Here are highlights from our Fall newsletter that we recently shared with landowners and farming partners. This season brought both challenges and valuable lessons as we worked through variable weather conditions and prepared for the year ahead.
What's Inside This Newsletter:
Harvest Results
Our soybean harvest is complete with variable yields across the farms we operate. We're grateful for favorable weather that allowed timely and efficient harvest, though the wet spring conditions left their mark on some fields.
Weather Impact
The 2025 season was a reminder of how much variability still exists in modern agriculture. From a soggy spring that delayed planting to spotty summer rainfall that affected different farms in different ways, we navigated each challenge with careful attention to soil conditions and long-term stewardship.
Our Stewardship Commitment
We're reinforcing our commitment to building soil health through cover crops, targeted tillage only where needed for erosion repair, and data-driven fertility planning. We also address why we don't burn crop residue - a practice that strips nutrients and harms long-term soil health.
Market Conditions
An honest look at current grain prices and what they mean for farm economics. Soybean and corn futures have pulled back from recent peaks, making 2026 planning more complex - but we remain committed to sound agronomic decisions and long-term thinking.
Preparation for 2026
From securing organic nutrients (chicken litter) for next season's corn acres to planting cereal rye cover crops, we're already deep into preparation. We're also managing field edges and addressing erosion to ensure every acre is ready for spring.
Ready to read the full story? Download the PDF to see detailed updates, photos from around the farm, and our complete perspective on the 2025 season.
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Questions About Our Farming Practices?
We value transparency and open communication with landowners, neighbors, and anyone interested in how we care for the land. If you'd like to discuss our approach or have questions about anything in this newsletter, we're happy to connect.
**Contact Jim Smith**
📞 (260) 413-7881
📧 Jim@JKSmithFamilyFarms.com
J&K Smith Family Farms has been farming in northeast Indiana for almost two decades, with family roots in Allen and DeKalb Counties spanning 170 years. We're committed to long-term stewardship, sustainable practices, and treating every acre with care.