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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Couple of farmers examines the field of cereals
Crop Insurance
Understanding USDA’s Base Acre Review Opportunity: What Farmers Need to Know

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a significant opportunity for landowners to review and potentially increase their base acres under the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. For many operations, this represents the first opportunity in more than two decades to align farm program base acres with more recent planting history. 

June 09, 2026

Beef cow in a green pasture
Crop Insurance
Livestock Risk Protection Policy Updates and June 30 Transfer Deadline
The USDA Risk Management Agency has announced significant updates to the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program effective July 1, 2026. These changes are intended to improve flexibility, expand coverage opportunities and create more consistency across livestock insurance products. The deadline for producers to transfer LRP providers to Crop Growers is June 30, 2026.

June 08, 2026

Woman in front of tractor in agriculture field holding and looking at a laptop computer, with tax talk logo in corner
Tax Talks
Highlights from the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 NYS Budget

Following three-months of delays, the New York State legislature has passed the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (FY 26-27) budget. The final budget, signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hocul, includes many provisions relevant to our farm and agribusiness customers. The following are a few highlights of the recently passed legislation. 

June 04, 2026

Dairy cows eating hay at a feeding station inside a barn, with warm sunlight in the background.
Crop Insurance
Key Changes Coming to DRP, LGM and LRP Programs: What Producers Need to Know

The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently announced several updates to Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP), Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) programs that will take effect beginning with the 2027 crop year on July 1, 2026. The changes are intended to improve flexibility, expand coverage opportunities and create more consistency across livestock insurance products.  

June 03, 2026

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