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

Picture of Megan Clancy, Farm Credit East Risk Advisor standing in a dairy barn with black and white cows in the background
Farm Credit
Employee Spotlight: A Day in the Life of a Dairy Risk Management Advisor

Shifting dairy markets and late-day price updates are daily challenges for Dairy & Livestock Risk Management Senior Advisor Megan Clancy. Read on as Megan shares what a typical week looks like, why collaboration matters and how her work helps protect dairy farms across the Northeast for the long haul. 

July 14, 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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Two oyster farmers checking mesh nets in the water
Knowledge Exchange Partner
2026 Oyster Industry Outlook

Discover key trends shaping the 2026 oyster industry in this Knowledge Exchange Partner article, 2026 Oyster Industry Outlook, Bob Rheault, Executive Director of East Coast Shellfish Growers Association dives into modern farming innovations, shifting markets, the future of this iconic seafood and how growers are adapting.

March 03, 2026

Timber harvesting in a forest
Knowledge Exchange Partner
Forest Products Industry Outlook: Softwood Markets Set to Stabilize in 2026

In this month’s Knowledge Exchange Partner article, Paul Jannke of Forest Economic Advisors, LLC delivers a compelling look at what’s ahead in the 2026 Forest Products Industry Outlook, spotlighting signs of momentum across lumber and pulp markets. Strengthening housing starts, steadier capacity, and gradual price gains point to an industry regaining its footing, even as long‑term structural pressures and shifting trade dynamics continue to shape the competitive landscape.

March 03, 2026

Three men sitting at a table talking and looking at a laptop
Business Tips and Tools
Defining Culture to Transform Your Farm Business

As your farm business grows, you quickly realize you can’t do everything yourself. Success depends on empowering your team — not just with tasks, but with clear expectations and shared values. You need to build up those around you to accomplish what you thought only you could. That’s where company culture comes in: it’s the foundation for how your team works, communicates and succeeds together.

February 24, 2026

Business Tips and Tools
2026 Green Industry Outlook Webinar

Farm Credit East and Horizon Farm Credit hosted Texas A&M's Dr. Charlie Hall for a review of the green industry's operational and financial performance in 2025 and an outlook for 2026. Topics included the growth pattern of the economy, supply chain, labor availability, input cost increases, inflationary pressures and consumer spending.

February 23, 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