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.
Farmer hands using smartphone

Knowledge Exchange Partner

Knowledge Exchange Partner

2025 Apple Industry Outlook: Headwinds Persist in the U.S.

This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article contributed by Chris Gerlach, of USApple reviews 2024 industry data and discusses 2025 pricing projections and changes to the export markets. It also explores potential direct and indirect impacts of tariffs.

April 1, 2025

A display of red ripe Macoun apples - a sweet crisp eating apple from the Hudson Valley of New York State.

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Crop Insurance
USDA Emergency Commodity Assistance Program: Applications Open

The USDA’s Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) opened applications on March 19, 2025, providing $10 billion in economic assistance to farmers. This initiative is part of a broader $31 billion package approved by Congress in December 2024, aimed at supporting farmers affected by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. The USDA plans to release initial payments, covering 85% of the total, with supplemental payments expected in the summer. 

April 3, 2025

Featured Webinar

Soybean field at sunset
Ag Economy
2025 Grain and Oilseed Industry Outlook

In the recent webinar, Farm Credit East, Horizon Farm Credit and CoBank Lead Economists, Tanner Ehmke and Jacqui Fatka, explore the latest insights on U.S. grain and biofuel markets. With record soybean and corn harvests, profitable storage options and recovering export demand, the landscape is shifting.

January 6, 2025

All from Knowledge Exchange

Search articles
Filter by category
Filter by year
Farm workers harvesting vegetables in a field near a red tractor with a wagon
Business Tips and Tools
Seasonal Business Labor and Immigration Webinar Series

Join Harris Beach PLLC and Farm Credit East for a series of four webinars focusing on getting the seasonal workers you need, legally.

One of the most pressing issues facing seasonal businesses continues to be labor – specifically how to secure reliable employees to fill seasonal and permanent needs. In this webinar series, presenters will navigate the complex maze of the H-2B non-agriculture and H-2A agricultural visa programs to provide an overview of visa requirements, procedures, compliance and employer obligations. Foreign labor options to fill permanent labor needs at farms and seasonal businesses will also be discussed.

Click here to view webinar dates and times.

November 29, 2022

Business Tips and Tools
The Levels of Dairy Risk Management

Dairy Risk Management can be an intimidating and complex process for many dairy operations; however, it is an important tool for protecting risk in dairy markets. Crop Growers agents Daniele Ricci and Megan Clancy explain the different levels available for your operation.

November 27, 2022

agriculture field of mowed dry hay in fall with close up of round bale of hale, trees in background have multi colored leaves
Business Tips and Tools
Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Policy – Winter Precipitation Affecting a Summer Crop?

Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) is a highly subsidized risk management plan geared toward hay producers or those producing hay for grass fed cattle. Did you know that snowfall creates the water table for the following growing season. If there is less snowfall than the past 50+ years’ average, there will be less water, and your PRF policy could pay you an indemnity.

November 14, 2022

Close up of red and green apples in various medium baskets
Business Tips and Tools
How Does Apple Insurance Protect Quality?

Pick-your-own apple orchards are familiar with wasted apples. Customers may take a bite of a few apples while picking or toss a few on the ground during their stay. While crop insurance doesn’t cover these unfortunate losses, it can help with apple quality before the masses visit the orchard. 

October 31, 2022

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. 

*Required

Error Please enter a valid email address

Success! Check your email for a copy of your download, or you can click here to see it.

Cover of the 2024 Economic Impact report