Ag Industry Trends & Outlooks

For producers across the Northeast, preparing for 2026 means more than setting goals and updating budgets; it means evaluating your farm’s entire risk management approach to make sure you’re positioned for stability and success. Taking a proactive approach to risk today can help you avoid surprises tomorrow.

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 year, your perennial crop insurance policy will renew by November 20. It is important to meet with your agent each year, prior to this date, to ensure accuracy and alignment in your risk management goals.  

As we embark on the 2025 grape harvest, those who insure their crop must be proactive in ensuring accurate production records and timely completion of appraisals. This year also brings some changes to crop insurance options, so it’s critical producers stay informed. This article provides tips and reminders on these important topics.