The strong El Niño is causing significant variability in harvest yields across the U.S., with eastern regions faring better than the west. Illinois farmers are particularly affected, reporting yield reductions of 20-40 bushels per acre due to excessive rainfall. These conditions are straining farmers' profitability, especially as input costs remain high and commodity prices fall below production costs. Transportation margins are also being squeezed by rising diesel prices, adding to the financial challenges faced by farmers.