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

Challenging Wine Market Offers Unique Opportunity

This month’s Knowledge Exchange Partner article explores how shifting consumer trends, demographic changes, and regional growth are reshaping the U.S. wine industry. While overall demand remains flat and competition intensifies, emerging opportunities in direct-to-consumer sales and East Coast winery expansion offer paths for resilience. Adaptability and innovation will be key as producers navigate evolving markets. Contributed by Andrew Adams, WineBusiness Analytics.

December 1, 2025

person standing in front of wine at a store

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Rows of corn stalks in a field with flood water covering the ground at dusk
Crop Insurance
USDA Expands Access to Risk Protection: What the 2026 Final Rule Means for Crop Insurance

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) has announced sweeping changes to federal crop insurance policies, effective for the 2026 and succeeding crop years. These updates, known as the Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) Final Rule, are designed to modernize the farm safety net, reduce regulatory burdens, and expand coverage options for producers across the country.

December 16, 2025

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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Branden Holdsworth
Crop Insurance
Branden Holdsworth Joins Farm Credit East to Help Aroostook County Farmers Manage Risk

Farm Credit East and Crop Growers, the financial cooperative’s crop insurance provider, is pleased to announce that Branden Holdsworth, of Caribou, Maine, has joined the Crop Growers team as a crop insurance agent serving Aroostook County, Maine. 


April 15, 2024

Adult male farmer sitting on open trunkbed in a crop field using a laptop
Tax Talks
Life Insurance Redemptions Falling Under IRS Scrutiny

In the context of farming business structures, acquiring a life insurance policy is a prevalent practice. Here are two common scenarios and an update on an ongoing Supreme Court case involving the IRS concerning the valuation of businesses when insurance payouts are implicated and whether such proceeds are deemed liabilities or not.

April 11, 2024

Bottles of maple syrup line a rack in a small syrup production facility
Ag Economy
2024 Maple Industry Outlook Webinar

Farm Credit East hosted Mark Cannella of the University of Vermont for a look at the Maple syrup and sugar industry in 2024.

April 10, 2024

Close up on stack of rough sawn timber pine lumber planks
Ag Economy
2024 Forest Products Industry Outlook

Paul Jannke of Forest Economic Advisors joined Farm Credit East for a discussion on the 2024 economic outlook for the forest products industry.

April 09, 2024

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