Ag Industry Trends & Outlooks

Across the country, dairy producers are seeing an unexpected bright spot in their bottom lines — record-high calf prices. In the past month, feeder cattle prices have reached record highs, with beef calf prices surpassing $1,600 per head. The growing beef-on-dairy trend has transformed calf sales into a meaningful revenue stream, adding $3.00 or more per hundredweight to many producers’ bottom lines.

Each November, as our nation pauses to honor the brave individuals who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, Farm Credit East proudly joins in expressing deep gratitude to our veterans. Their courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to protecting our freedoms deserve recognition not just on Veterans Day, but every day.

This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article highlights how record harvests, shifting trade relations, and evolving biofuel policies are shaping U.S. agriculture. Despite low prices, strong exports and renewable fuel demand offer hope for market stability in 2026. Contributed by Tanner Ehmke, CoBank lead economist grain & oilseeds, and Jacqui Fatka, CoBank lead economist farm supply & biofuels.

On October 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a new Interim Final Rule (IFR) that significantly revises how Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) are calculated for H-2A guestworkers. AEWRs set the minimum hourly wages that must be paid to H-2A workers and those in corresponding employment. This rule introduces major changes affecting wage structures across Farm Credit East’s eight-state region, with important implications for farm operations and labor management.