Ag Industry Trends & Outlooks

Discover insights, trends, ag market outlooks and other topical information as it relates to the Northeast's diverse agricultural industries. Brought to you by Knowledge Exchange from Farm Credit East.
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Knowledge Exchange Partner

Knowledge Exchange Partner

2026 Apple Industry Outlook: U.S. Apple Industry Hits Latest Inflection Point

This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article contributed by Chris Gerlach, of USApple examined how the U.S. apple industry is undergoing a significant transition as shifting markets, changing production economics, and evolving consumer trends are reshaping the landscape.

April 1, 2026

Blooming apple orchard in agricultural field, in summer sun with anti-hail netting for protection against weather factors.

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Close up on stack of rough sawn timber pine lumber planks
Ag Economy
2026 Forest Products Outlook: Key Takeaways for a Shifting Industry

From national economic trends to housing demand, lumber supply and global trade shifts, many economic forces are shaping the U.S. forest products industry. In a recent Farm Credit East webinar, Paul Jannke, of Forest Economic Advisors, provided an economic forecast pointing to a year of stability, modest growth and continued adjustment across the forest products sector. The following are the key insights from the webinar. 

April 7, 2026

Featured Webinar

A display of red ripe Macoun apples - a sweet crisp eating apple from the Hudson Valley of New York State.
Business Tips and Tools
2026 Apple Industry Outlook Webinar

Join Farm Credit East, Horizon Farm Credit and Chris Gerlach of the U.S. Apple Association to discuss the future of the apple industry. This webinar will take a deep dive into the prevailing trends and forces shaping the U.S. apple industry.

April 16, 2026

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Grapes frost damage. Frost Grape by slight frost winter injury.
Crop Insurance
Late Spring Freeze – Next Steps for Insured Crop Policy Holders

The short stretch of warm days in April prompted an early start to the growing season for vineyards and orchards across the Northeast. Many growers weren’t too worried given the mild winter. They thought, “As long as there’s no freeze, we’ll be ok.” Unfortunately, the early morning hours of May 18, 2023, brought those low temperatures that were looming in the back of everyone’s mind. What do you do now?

June 05, 2023

Crop Insurance
It pays to have Dairy Revenue Protection

Why does it pay to have Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP)? DRP sets a quarterly price floor based on Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) futures prices to protect dairy producers against unexpected declines in milk revenue. It’s important to protect your operation — and DRP is one of the resources you can have in your toolbox to do so.  


May 22, 2023

Hail Caught in Netting in Apple Orchard with damaged yellow apple and green tree leaves.
Crop Insurance
Crop-Hail Coverage: Providing Peace of Mind in the Middle of the Storm

Hail can be a true catastrophe for agricultural businesses. The damage caused by hailstones can destroy a portion of a crop and result in significant financial losses for farmers. Crop-hail insurance is an essential tool for managing this risk.

May 09, 2023

Flooded corn field  at dust with sunset reflected in flood waters
Crop Insurance
Risk Management Agency Adds Tropical Storm Option to Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index Endorsement

Farm Credit East and Crop Growers, LLP are pleased the Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced the addition of Tropical Storm (TS) coverage as an option to the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) endorsements for the 2023 crop year.

April 18, 2023

Northeast Economic Engine

Download Farm Credit East’s Northeast Economic Engine report, which analyzes the economic impact of the Northeast agriculture, forest products, commercial fishing and food manufacturing industries. This report was released in October 2024. 

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Cover of the 2024 Economic Impact report