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

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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Apple on tree
Ag Economy
2025 Apple Industry Outlook

Farm Credit East hosted Chris Gerlach of U.S. Apple Association to discuss the future of the apple industry.

April 17, 2025

Rural home set back in agriculture pasture during sunset
Business Tips and Tools
Farm Credit East offers more than just farm financing with Country Living Loans

Farm Credit East’s Country Living Loans program helps finance more than just your typical farm. Farm Credit East can do primary residence loans, construction loans, land loans and more. We also welcome the opportunity to finance mobile homes, unlike some other lenders. 

April 15, 2025

Timber being harvested and loaded onto a truck
Ag Economy
Key Factors to Watch in the Forest Products Market for 2025

With a challenging housing market and a resumption of 25% tariff on U.S. imports of Canadian goods, what is at store for the forest products industry for 2025? Farm Credit recently hosted a webinar with Paul Jannke, of Forest Economic Advisors, to present a 2025 forest products industry outlook. Below are key takeaways on current housing market trends, inflationary pressures and economic factors that are affecting the industry. 

 

April 08, 2025

Crop Insurance
USDA Emergency Commodity Assistance Program: Applications Open

The USDA’s Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) opened applications on March 19, 2025, providing $10 billion in economic assistance to farmers. This initiative is part of a broader $31 billion package approved by Congress in December 2024, aimed at supporting farmers affected by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. The USDA plans to release initial payments, covering 85% of the total, with supplemental payments expected in the summer. 

April 03, 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