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

United States Citizenship and Immigration Service Clears H-2A Path for Dairy Employers

A new USCIS policy is opening the door for dairy producers to access the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program, a workforce option that has long been out of reach for year-round dairy operations. This month’s Knowledge Exchange Partner discusses how the updated guidance could help dairies address labor shortages, support seasonal workforce planning and navigate new petition requirements moving forward. Republished with permission courtesy of Harris Beach Murtha Attorneys at Law.

July 7, 2026

Cow milking facility and mechanized milking equipment

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

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Public Policy
2026 Farm Bill Takes Shape: Comparing the House and Senate Proposals

After nearly three years of short-term extensions, Congress is once again debating and drafting comprehensive farm legislation. In May, the House passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), while in late June Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (AR) released the Agricultural Act of 2026, a “discussion draft” providing the Senate a starting point for negotiation with other committee members. 


July 7, 2026

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
Farm Credit East and Horizon Farm Credit recently hosted Chris Gerlach of USApple for a discussion on the prevailing trends and forces shaping the U.S. apple industry.

April 16, 2026

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Tag: dairy 
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Crop Insurance
Key Changes Coming to DRP, LGM and LRP Programs: What Producers Need to Know

The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently announced several updates to Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP), Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) programs that will take effect beginning with the 2027 crop year on July 1, 2026. The changes are intended to improve flexibility, expand coverage opportunities and create more consistency across livestock insurance products.  

June 03, 2026

cow and calf stand in the pasture
Crop Insurance
Building Resilient Dairy Businesses: Key Takeaways from Crop Growers Dairy Producer Meeting

Last week, Crop Growers and Farm Credit East welcomed dairy and livestock producers to Syracuse, New York, for an evening focused on market outlooks, industry trends and strategies to help build resilient farm businesses in today’s evolving environment.

May 14, 2026

Cows lined up eating feed
Crop Insurance
Reminder: June 30 Deadline to Change Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) Provider to Crop Growers
Crop Growers from Farm Credit East reminds dairy producers of the June 30, 2026, deadline to change their Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) provider. Producers can sign up for coverage at any time, but existing policies can only be transferred to a different provider once per year by the June 30 deadline. 

May 11, 2026

 herd of cows eating hay and man in barn on dairy farm
Knowledge Exchange Partner
Dairy Markets Show Positive Trends

In this month’s Knowledge Exchange Partner article, Corey Geiger of CoBank, reviews the U.S. dairy markets. It enters the rest of 2026 with renewed optimism as improving margins, strong protein demand, and record export activity reshape the outlook. At the same time, rapid butterfat growth, global uncertainty, and market volatility signal the need for strategic risk management ahead.

May 03, 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