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

2026 Apple Industry Outlook: U.S. Apple Industry Hits Latest Inflection Point

This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article contributed by Chris Gerlach, of USApple examined how the U.S. apple industry is undergoing a significant transition as shifting markets, changing production economics, and evolving consumer trends are reshaping the landscape.

April 1, 2026

Blooming apple orchard in agricultural field, in summer sun with anti-hail netting for protection against weather factors.

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Close up on stack of rough sawn timber pine lumber planks
Ag Economy
2026 Forest Products Outlook: Key Takeaways for a Shifting Industry

From national economic trends to housing demand, lumber supply and global trade shifts, many economic forces are shaping the U.S. forest products industry. In a recent Farm Credit East webinar, Paul Jannke, of Forest Economic Advisors, provided an economic forecast pointing to a year of stability, modest growth and continued adjustment across the forest products sector. The following are the key insights from the webinar. 

April 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

Join Farm Credit East, Horizon Farm Credit and Chris Gerlach of the U.S. Apple Association to discuss the future of the apple industry. This webinar will take a deep dive into the prevailing trends and forces shaping the U.S. apple industry.

April 16, 2026

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Drone view of three farm workers harvesting apples
Tax Talks
Revisiting the NYS Farm Employer Overtime Credit for 2026

In this update, we share key 2026 changes to New York’s Farm Employer Overtime Credit, including expanded eligible overtime hours, shifting thresholds, and new certification requirements for all farm employers. We also highlight reminders on payroll adjustments and advance payment options to help farmers stay compliant and prepared for the season ahead.

March 31, 2026

Farms walking in a harvested field at dusk
Ag Economy
From Farm to Forest to Dock: The Northeast’s $225B Economic Engine

As we celebrate National Agriculture Day on March 24, we recognize the contributions of the hardworking agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products producers to our everyday lives here in the Northeast and beyond.

March 24, 2026

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Business Tips and Tools
Protecting yourself from Tax Scams in 2026

Tax season is a busy time — and unfortunately, it’s also a peak season for fraud scams. From fake IRS messages to misleading “tax tips” on social media, fraudsters often rely on urgency and confusion to trick people into sharing personal or financial information. 

March 19, 2026

Large logging truck with worker using log picking controls
Business Tips and Tools
2026 Forest Products Outlook Webinar

Farm Credit East and Horizon Farm Credit hosted Paul Jannke of Forest Economic Advisors for insights on the 2026 forest products industry.

March 17, 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