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

Farm Labor Policy in Transition: Updates on SAWA, H-2A and AEWR

This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article explores how proposed H-2A reforms and recent wage-rate changes could affect Northeast agricultural employers, including workforce access, labor costs, program flexibility and compliance—and what these evolving policies may mean for the future of farm labor.

October 5, 2026

Farm workers harvesting vegetables in a field near a red tractor with a wagon

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Onion harvester collecting onions and transferring them by conveyor into a truck.
Business Tips and Tools
What Producers Need to Know About USDA's New Harvest Fuel Relief Program

Harvest often provides the clearest picture of a farm's financial performance. This year, many producers are balancing strong yields with continued pressure from fuel, input and operating costs. To help address those challenges, USDA recently announced the new Harvest Fuel Relief Program (HFR), a one-time $8 billion assistance program for agricultural producers. 

October 21, 2026

Featured Webinar

Ripe juicy red apples in a container. Production facilities of large warehouse - grading, packing and storage of crops.
Business Tips and Tools
Apple Industry Outlook Webinar
Join Farm Credit East and Horizon Farm Credit as they host Chris Gerlach of USApple for a discussion on the prevailing trends and forces shaping the U.S. apple industry.

April 15, 2027

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Female farmer working on a laptop in sunflower field
Business Tips and Tools
Top Three Reasons to Take GenerationNext: An Instructor’s Perspective

GenerationNext is a seminar series designed to help emerging agricultural professionals — particularly those in farming, fishing or forest product businesses — develop essential management and business skills. I’ve taught several sessions over the course of my Farm Credit East career, and here’s the value I believe participants gain from GenerationNext. 

September 23, 2025

Ripe juicy red apples in a container. Production facilities of large warehouse - grading, packing and storage of crops.
Crop Insurance
The Importance of Production Records when Insuring your Apple Crop

With harvest upon us, apple bins are being filled and moved into storage. While this is a busy time of year for growers, it’s important to ensure you are proactively keeping track of production. We all have different ways to capture production information — whether it be a software with bin tags, hard copy logs from each trucker or sales records. The most important thing is the record keeping is done accurately.  

September 15, 2025

Farm Credit East Young Professional Group sitting on a panel discussion with the Board of Directors
Farm Credit
Empowering the Future: A Look Inside Farm Credit East’s Young Professionals Program

At Farm Credit East, our focus is always on delivering value to our customers. That starts with a strong, engaged team behind the scenes — employees who are connected, curious and committed to moving our mission forward. Farm Credit East’s Young Professionals program is one way we foster that mindset.

September 09, 2025

A large container filled with red and green apples sits in the foreground. In the background, a white semi-truck with an open trailer is parked, loaded with green crates.
Knowledge Exchange Partner
Food Export-Northeast: Helping Northeast Suppliers Navigate Global Markets and Expand with International Sales

With all the news of tariffs and trade disputes between the United States and its business partners around the world, it might not seem like an ideal time to explore export opportunities. However, recent and ongoing negotiations may actually open new markets for U.S. exports. This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner highlights Food Export-Northeast, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping U.S. suppliers— particularly small- and medium-sized companies—expand their international reach. 

September 09, 2025

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