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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Understanding the Agricultural Impacts of Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire smoke darkened skies across the Northeast for at least three consecutive days this July. Orange clouds were evidence of fires raging thousands of miles away in Ontario, Canada and northern Minnesota. While the duration and impact of wildfires have historically been concentrated in the Western United States, the issue is becoming a more frequent concern on the east coast. What impact does sustained wildfire smoke have on agriculture in our region?

August 7, 2026

burning dry grass in spring, air pollution due to burning dry grass

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Farm workers harvesting vegetables in a field near a red tractor with a wagon
Public Policy
House Ag Committee Chair Introduces Labor Legislation

Finding and retaining workers remains one of the biggest challenges facing agriculture today. The H-2A program was created to provide a legal guestworker program to help agricultural employers address labor shortages. While participation has increased in recent decades, the program has struggled to keep pace with the needs of today’s operations. New federal legislation aims to modernize the H-2A program to better meet employers’ needs. 

 

August 25, 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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Crop Insurance
Livestock Risk Protection Policy Updates and June 30 Transfer Deadline
The USDA Risk Management Agency has announced significant updates to the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program effective July 1, 2026. These changes are intended to improve flexibility, expand coverage opportunities and create more consistency across livestock insurance products. The deadline for producers to transfer LRP providers to Crop Growers is June 30, 2026.

June 08, 2026

Woman in front of tractor in agriculture field holding and looking at a laptop computer, with tax talk logo in corner
Tax Talks
Highlights from the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 NYS Budget

Following three-months of delays, the New York State legislature has passed the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (FY 26-27) budget. The final budget, signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hocul, includes many provisions relevant to our farm and agribusiness customers. The following are a few highlights of the recently passed legislation. 

June 04, 2026

Dairy cows eating hay at a feeding station inside a barn, with warm sunlight in the background.
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

Blooming apple orchard in agricultural field, in summer sun with anti-hail netting for protection against weather factors.
Crop Insurance
USDA’s New ASCF Program: What Specialty Crop Growers Should Know (and Do) Right Now

If you grow specialty crops, there’s a new USDA program worth your attention. The Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program was designed to help producers navigate the financial pressure many faced in 2025. Rising input costs, ongoing inflation and market disruptions all contributed to tighter margins. This program offers a one-time payment to help offset those challenges. 

June 02, 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