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

Who Takes The Fall? Liability Limitations for Agritourism Activity Hosts

Autumn ushers in a season of outdoor agritourism activities across the Northeast — from hayrides to fruit picking. These activities come with a measure of risk, and understanding liability is crucial. In this month's Knowledge Exchange Partner, contributors Charles F. Gfeller and Anna-Kate M. Munsey of Gfeller Laurie LLP, examine the types of agritourism liability laws enacted by Northeast state.

October 14, 2025

Rows of harvested pumpkins for sale at rural farm with autumn activities in the background.

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Farm workers harvesting vegetables in a field near a red tractor with a wagon
Business Tips and Tools
Key Updates to H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates for Northeast Agricultural Employers

On October 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a new Interim Final Rule (IFR) that significantly revises how Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) are calculated for H-2A guestworkers. AEWRs set the minimum hourly wages that must be paid to H-2A workers and those in corresponding employment. This rule introduces major changes affecting wage structures across Farm Credit East’s eight-state region, with important implications for farm operations and labor management.

November 4, 2025

Featured Webinar

Business Tips and Tools
Connecticut Investment Tax Credit Webinar

Join Farm Credit East and Connecticut Farm Bureau for an informative webinar to learn how Connecticut Investment Tax Credit can benefit your operation.

October 27, 2025

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Farm workers harvesting apples
Tax Talks
New York Farm Employer Overtime Credit – Advance Application Opens July 1

In December 2023, we shared two important Tax Talks blog articles on the New York Employer Overtime Credit. The time to apply for an advance of the credit is fast approaching with NYS Ag and Markets opening the application on July 1, 2024. 

July 02, 2024

Tractor preparing field for planting
Tax Talks
Production Tax Credit – Complete Application for Registration by July 15

In a previous Tax Talks blog article, we talked about energy credits. An energy credit not discussed is the Production Tax Credit (PTC) under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 45Z. This credit incentivizes the domestic production of sustainable transportation fuels, such as those that may be generated by an on-farm biomass digester, offering a per gallon tax credit for qualified fuels produced by the taxpayer and sold to an unrelated person. 

June 25, 2024

Two farmers in a crop field looking at a tablet
Tax Talks
Handling State Tax Refunds from Business Tax Credits

With many taxpayers having filed their 2023 taxes, refunds are appearing in their bank accounts. There may be a question of what to do with these funds. Particularly for those in states that had an expansion of refundable credits generated from farm businesses.

May 29, 2024

Adult male farmer sitting on open trunkbed in a crop field using a laptop
Tax Talks
Life Insurance Redemptions Falling Under IRS Scrutiny

In the context of farming business structures, acquiring a life insurance policy is a prevalent practice. Here are two common scenarios and an update on an ongoing Supreme Court case involving the IRS concerning the valuation of businesses when insurance payouts are implicated and whether such proceeds are deemed liabilities or not.

April 11, 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