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

United States Citizenship and Immigration Service Clears H-2A Path for Dairy Employers

A new USCIS policy is opening the door for dairy producers to access the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program, a workforce option that has long been out of reach for year-round dairy operations. This month’s Knowledge Exchange Partner discusses how the updated guidance could help dairies address labor shortages, support seasonal workforce planning and navigate new petition requirements moving forward. Republished with permission courtesy of Harris Beach Murtha Attorneys at Law.

July 7, 2026

Cow milking facility and mechanized milking equipment

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Capital building with farm field background
Public Policy
2026 Farm Bill Takes Shape: Comparing the House and Senate Proposals

After nearly three years of short-term extensions, Congress is once again debating and drafting comprehensive farm legislation. In May, the House passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), while in late June Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (AR) released the Agricultural Act of 2026, a “discussion draft” providing the Senate a starting point for negotiation with other committee members. 


July 7, 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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A woman measuring crop growth rate with augmented reality and AR technology using a smart device in a grape crop.
Innovation and Emerging Markets
4 Steps to a Smarter Farm

As technology continues to advance, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other tools are becoming integral to agricultural operations. With many tools already available — and many others on the horizon — it can quickly become overwhelming to determine where to start. Read on for a practical approach to integrating technology into your operation. 

November 12, 2024

Man and woman walking in rural crop field looking at a tablet
Crop Insurance
Understanding Crop Insurance: Key Terms You Need to Know

Crop Insurance has a lot of acronyms and options. Your agent (who works with this policy everyday) might say an acronym and move on so fast your head is spinning. I’m here to help break all those down. These options usually cost pennies on the dollar and add tremendous value to your policy. 

November 05, 2024

Knowledge Exchange Partner
Grain and Biofuel Outlook: Biofuels Creating Needed Demand for Ample U.S. Harvests

This month's Knowledge Exchange Partner article, written by two CoBank Lead Economists, Tanner Ehmke and Jacqui Fatka, explores the latest insights on U.S. grain and biofuel markets. With record soybean and corn harvests, profitable storage options, and recovering export demand, the landscape is shifting. Learn how ethanol production and renewable diesel demand are driving the market, despite challenges from trade policies and global competition. Dive into the complexities of supply, demand, and policy in this comprehensive outlook.

November 05, 2024

Apple harvest in large wooden bins.
Tax Talks
Important Tax Considerations for Apple Growers

As the 2024 growing and harvest season wraps up, many producers will be turning to their tax advisors to continue the year-end tax planning conversation. In this article, we examine a few areas that may be of interest to apple producers and their advisors. 

October 29, 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