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This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article, written by two CoBank Lead Economists, Tanner Ehmke and Jacqui Fatka, explores the latest insights on U.S. grain and biofuel markets. With record soybean and corn harvests, profitable storage options, and recovering export demand, the landscape is shifting. Learn how ethanol production and renewable diesel demand are driving the market, despite challenges from trade policies and global competition. Dive into the complexities of supply, demand, and policy in this comprehensive outlook.

This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article contributed by Dr. Christopher Wolf of Cornell University, reviews 2024 industry trends and discusses 2025 pricing projections and feed costs. It also explores potential impacts of weather risks, disease, and policy changes, including Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization and the extension of The Farm Bill, on farm milk prices and dairy policy.

Farm Credit East and Horizon Farm Credit will be hosting Cornell University’s Dr. Chris Wolf for Farm Credit East’s annual dairy outlook webinar on Wednesday, January 22 at 12:00 pm. This webinar is free to attend for all interested dairy producers.

In the recent webinar, Farm Credit East, Horizon Farm Credit and CoBank Lead Economists, Tanner Ehmke and Jacqui Fatka, explore the latest insights on U.S. grain and biofuel markets. With record soybean and corn harvests, profitable storage options and recovering export demand, the landscape is shifting.

Agriculture, commercial fishing and forestry have been iconic industries for the Northeast since colonial times, when they formed the backbone of the economy. Today, these industries do more than just provide food, fiber, building materials, ornamentals and other goods — they are economic engines in their communities, providing jobs and financial impacts.

With record soybean and corn harvests, profitable storage options and recovering export demand, the landscape is shifting for U.S. grain and biofuel markets. How are ethanol production, renewable diesel demand and challenges from trade policies and global competition influencing the market?

Natural resource-based businesses, like farming, fishing, forestry, and food manufacturing do more than provide food, fiber, building materials, ornamentals and other goods. They are economic engines in their communities, providing jobs and financial impacts throughout the region. In a new report, Farm Credit East, in collaboration with researchers at Cornell University, examines the economic impact of these industries in New England, New York and New Jersey.

In the wake of Hurricane Debby, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a comprehensive emergency assistance program to support homeowners in Allegany, Delaware, Franklin, Steuben and St. Lawrence counties. This initiative, spearheaded by New York Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), aims to provide critical repairs and financial support to those affected by the storm.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted in 2017 and in effect from 2018 – 2025 has had a substantial effect on itemizing deductions. The resulting changes have impacted the tax consequences of making charitable contributions, especially for senior citizens. A remedy to this can be to use Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) from an IRA account.

As 2025 begins, the 119th Congress faces a busy start. Senate committees will hold nomination hearings for 24 cabinet-level positions, while Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warns of hitting the debt limit. The American Relief Act, 2025, extends government funding through March 14, 2025, and includes a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill. Brooke Rollins is nominated as Secretary of Agriculture, amidst hopes of passing the Farm Bill early in the year to address the decline in farm income.