Ag Industry Trends & Outlooks

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.

Filing farm taxes doesn’t have to be confusing. The IRS requires you to report all income unless specifically excluded, and only deduct expenses that are both ordinary—common in farming—and necessary—helpful for your business. Understanding these basics can save you time and stress.