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

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

A young farmer talking to another individual with a tablet in a crop field with green netting
Business Tips and Tools
Northeast Farmers: What to Know About New Disaster Recovery Grant Programs

Northeast farmers have faced significant challenges from severe weather events in recent years. For producers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine impacted by weather-related losses in 2023 and 2024, funding has been made available to help recover losses, rebuild operations and strengthen long-term business resilience. The program is funded through USDA resources and administered by state departments of agriculture.

September 4, 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
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

cow and calf stand in the pasture
Crop Insurance
Risk Management Gets a Boost: LRP Beef on Dairy Coverage Explained

Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) is a federally subsidized risk management program designed to protect against a decline in livestock prices, allowing producers to set a price floor and mitigate risk from marketplace volatility. 

July 22, 2025

Rows of corn stalks in a field with flood water covering the ground at dusk
Crop Insurance
Proactive Strategies for Business Success: Protecting your investment with crop insurance

While we can’t predict the future, we can certainly plan for the unexpected, and crop insurance is an important tool to help producers do just that. Ag businesses that are eligible for crop or livestock insurance should consider the value risk management tools can provide. So, what are the next steps for protecting your investment with crop insurance?

July 15, 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