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

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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

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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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Aerial view of a drone flying over forest, monitoring and analyzing in forestry management.
Innovation and Emerging Markets
What’s the Return on AI in Agriculture?

In agriculture, change is a constant. With the many variables those in agriculture deal with each day — weather, wildlife, disease, markets, consumer preferences — technology may be one of the easier variables to adapt, adopt and hopefully add value to the operation for the long term. In fact, farmers are often early adopters of new technologies, but what benefits can new technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), bring to an operation? Let’s break it down.

 

October 22, 2024

Ripe blueberries growing on green leafed bush
Crop Insurance
Risk Management Agency Expands the Enhanced Coverage Option and Increases Affordability

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced that the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) will expand coverage to include several fruits for the 2025 crop year and increase premium support to make the coverage more affordable. The ECO will now include apples, blueberries and grapes, providing new coverage opportunities for Northeast fruit producers.  

October 22, 2024

Ripe bunch of purple grapes on vine with green leaves
Crop Insurance
Risk Management Agency Expands Perennial Crop Insurance Coverage for New Jersey Grape Producers and Clam Harvesters

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently announced expansion of its perennial crop insurance coverage in New Jersey to include grape producers in additional counties and producers in select counties can now obtain coverage for their clams. This expansion will allow Crop Growers, Farm Credit East’s insurance provider, to provide important coverage to mitigate risk for more New Jersey producers.

October 21, 2024

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Business Tips and Tools
Stay Cyber Safe: 6 Tips to Spot Email Spoofing

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Farm Credit East is committed to providing awareness of common online threats like fake emails (phishing or spoofing), harmful software (malware), and trickery (social engineering), as well as providing the resources and support you need to understand and navigate these challenges. Learn how you can protect yourself. 

 

October 15, 2024

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