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

Understanding the Agricultural Impacts of Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire smoke darkened skies across the Northeast for at least three consecutive days this July. Orange clouds were evidence of fires raging thousands of miles away in Ontario, Canada and northern Minnesota. While the duration and impact of wildfires have historically been concentrated in the Western United States, the issue is becoming a more frequent concern on the east coast. What impact does sustained wildfire smoke have on agriculture in our region?

August 7, 2026

burning dry grass in spring, air pollution due to burning dry grass

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Farm workers harvesting vegetables in a field near a red tractor with a wagon
Public Policy
House Ag Committee Chair Introduces Labor Legislation

Finding and retaining workers remains one of the biggest challenges facing agriculture today. The H-2A program was created to provide a legal guestworker program to help agricultural employers address labor shortages. While participation has increased in recent decades, the program has struggled to keep pace with the needs of today’s operations. New federal legislation aims to modernize the H-2A program to better meet employers’ needs. 

 

August 25, 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
Farm Credit East and Horizon Farm Credit recently hosted Chris Gerlach of USApple for a discussion on the prevailing trends and forces shaping the U.S. apple industry.

April 16, 2026

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Public Policy
One Big Beautiful Bill: Understanding the Northeast Agricultural Impact
Farm Credit East hosted a webinar on Monday, July 21, diving into the most relevant provisions for Northeast businesses and producers. This webinar also covered impacts on agricultural programs, including commodity pricing and beginning farmer programs.

July 21, 2025

Rows of corn stalks in a field with flood water covering the ground at dusk
Crop Insurance
Proactive Strategies for Business Success: Protecting your investment with crop insurance

While we can’t predict the future, we can certainly plan for the unexpected, and crop insurance is an important tool to help producers do just that. Ag businesses that are eligible for crop or livestock insurance should consider the value risk management tools can provide. So, what are the next steps for protecting your investment with crop insurance?

July 15, 2025

silhouette of two people shaking hands outside at dusk.
Knowledge Exchange Partner
Farm Credit East Champions Tax Credits for Connecticut Farmers

Cooperative teamwork played a key role in Connecticut’s budget success, delivering meaningful gains for Northeast agriculture. Farm Credit East members and leaders championed the investment tax credit (ITC). This month’s Knowledge Exchange Partner article highlights new tax credits for Connecticut farmers and similar opportunities in New York and Maine.


July 10, 2025

Low angle view of the east entrance to United States Capitol building in Washington DC with marble dome and stairs
Tax Talks
One Big Beautiful Bill’s Impact on Northeast Agriculture: Agricultural Changes

President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) into law over the July 4th holiday. We have already covered business tax changes and individual tax changes, and today, we’ll highlight some of the most pertinent non-tax provisions impacting agriculture.

July 09, 2025

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