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

Farm Labor Policy in Transition: Updates on SAWA, H-2A and AEWR

This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article explores how proposed H-2A reforms and recent wage-rate changes could affect Northeast agricultural employers, including workforce access, labor costs, program flexibility and compliance—and what these evolving policies may mean for the future of farm labor.

October 5, 2026

Farm workers harvesting vegetables in a field near a red tractor with a wagon

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Two agronomists checking the quality of a corn crop.
Business Tips and Tools
Data, Dollars and Decisions: Turning Financial Data into Confident Farm Decisions

Farmers have more production and financial data than ever, but using it effectively is the real challenge. Learn how partial budgeting can help evaluate investments, weigh income and expenses, and make confident business decisions. The GenerationNext program helps producers build the financial management skills needed to strengthen their farms for the future.

October 6, 2026

Featured Webinar

Bunches of harvested grapes
Business Tips and Tools
Wine and Grape Outlook Webinar

Join Farm Credit East and Horizon Farm Credit as they host Andrew Adams, from WineBusiness Analytics, covering what's ahead for the wine and grape industry in 2027.

November 12, 2026

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Green tractor pulling a yellow row planter across a freshly tilled field, with a dense tree line in the background under daylight conditions.
Knowledge Exchange Partner
Why Higher Fertilizer Prices Are Here To Stay

This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article discuss the current fertilizer market challenges, and the continued geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions that are creating long-term pressure on fertilizer availability and pricing, creating future sourcing uncertainties for farmers and agricultural retailers. Contributed by Jacqui Fatka, Lead Economist, Farm Supply and Biofuels, at CoBank.

 

September 08, 2026

A young farmer talking to another individual with a tablet in a crop field with green netting
Business Tips and Tools
Northeast Farmers: What to Know About New Disaster Recovery Grant Programs

Northeast farmers have faced significant challenges from severe weather events in recent years. For producers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine impacted by weather-related losses in 2023 and 2024, funding has been made available to help recover losses, rebuild operations and strengthen long-term business resilience. The program is funded through USDA resources and administered by state departments of agriculture.

September 04, 2026

A person stands in the middle of a lush green cornfield with arms crossed, wearing a plaid shirt over a white top. Tall corn plants stretch into the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
Business Tips and Tools
The Next Generation of Farm Leadership Starts Here

Leadership. It’s a subject countless books, articles, podcasts and TikToks address every day. We seem to spend a lot of time talking about leadership, which might just mean that it is important. The importance of having strong and effective leadership skills in an agricultural business is why we start with the subject in the GenerationNext Seminar Series. 

September 02, 2026

Woman in front of tractor in agriculture field holding and looking at a laptop computer, with tax talk logo in corner
Tax Talks
Connecticut Farmers: Put the New 20% Investment Tax Credit to Work

Back in July 2025, we provided some insights into the new 20% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that Connecticut Farmers can take advantage of starting in 2026. Recently, the state put out some additional guidance on the credit. Today’s blog will review the overall credit and the additional guidance so that farmers can plan for the new changes.

August 31, 2026

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