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

2026 Apple Industry Outlook: U.S. Apple Industry Hits Latest Inflection Point

This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article contributed by Chris Gerlach, of USApple examined how the U.S. apple industry is undergoing a significant transition as shifting markets, changing production economics, and evolving consumer trends are reshaping the landscape.

April 1, 2026

Blooming apple orchard in agricultural field, in summer sun with anti-hail netting for protection against weather factors.

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Drone view of three farm workers harvesting apples
Tax Talks
Revisiting the NYS Farm Employer Overtime Credit for 2026

In this update, we share key 2026 changes to New York’s Farm Employer Overtime Credit, including expanded eligible overtime hours, shifting thresholds, and new certification requirements for all farm employers. We also highlight reminders on payroll adjustments and advance payment options to help farmers stay compliant and prepared for the season ahead.

March 31, 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

Join Farm Credit East, Horizon Farm Credit and Chris Gerlach of the U.S. Apple Association to discuss the future of the apple industry. This webinar will take a deep dive into the prevailing trends and forces shaping the U.S. apple industry.

April 16, 2026

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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

Round hay bale in harvested agriculture field
Crop Insurance
Protect Your Hay Production with Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Crop Insurance

Are you a livestock or hay producer concerned about unpredictable weather affecting your forage production? Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance is an important risk management tool to protect your operation from insufficient precipitation (rainfall, snow, etc.), offering flexible coverage levels and automatic claims processing.

August 26, 2025

Close up image of grain crop growing in a field ready for harvest
Crop Insurance
Reminder: Fall Crop Sales Closing Deadline is September 30
The deadline to insure fall crops in the northeast for the 2026 crop year is September 30, 2025. Insurable fall crops include barley, forage production and wheat. Coverage availability varies by county.

August 11, 2025

Crop Insurance
Whole Farm Revenue Protection Just Got Better: What Farmers Need to Know Under the One Big Beautiful Bill

The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill marks a pivotal moment for risk management in American agriculture. Among the most farmer-friendly changes is the overhaul of the Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) program — an insurance policy designed to provide a safety net for diversified farms based on their historic revenue. 

August 07, 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