ENFIELD, Conn. — Farm Credit East, a farmer-owned cooperative, recently released its 2017 industry outlook report. This report addresses market outlooks for multiple industries, including dairy, grain, vegetables, greenhouse and nursery, groundfish and forest products. It also provides information on leadership development, marketing and digital opportunities for agriculture, as well as potential impacts of the Food Safety Modernization Act for Northeast producers.
“As the pace of change accelerates for farmers, commercial fishermen and forest products producers, industry and technology insights are increasingly important to business success,” said Bill Lipinski, Farm Credit East CEO. “At Farm Credit East, we have an incredible network of industry experts, both internally and external professionals, that are knowledgeable of industry trends and information. We hope this report provides useful insights as producers plan for 2017’s changing business conditions.”
The report opens with an article from Farm Credit East senior leaders on how to optimize your lending relationship and another article from Farm Credit East business consultants on best management practices during challenging times. The report also presents the results of a recent producer survey, provides a tax and succession perspective on business entity trends and Farm Credit East Director of Knowledge Exchange, Chris Laughton, provides economic outlooks for various Northeast agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products industries.
In addition, the report features ten short perspective papers from academic and industry thought leaders, including:
- Sophie Winter, Ph.D., SUNY Cobleskill, discusses changing consumer trends.
- Patrick Westhoff, Ph.D., University of Missouri, provides a grain and oilseed outlook.
- Harold van Es, Ph.D., and Joshua Woodard, Ph.D., Cornell University, discuss digital opportunities for agriculture.
- Larry Van De Valk, Ph.D., LEAD New York, discusses the importance of leadership development.
- Mark Stephenson, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, looks at 2017 milk price recovery.
- Steve Reiners, Ph.D., Cornell University, provides a 2017 vegetable crops outlook.
- Eric Kingsley, Innovative Natural Resource Solutions, discusses Northeast low-grade wood markets.
- Charles Hall, Ph.D, Texas A & M, provides a green industry outlook.
- John Bovay, Ph.D., University of Connecticut, looks at the implications of the Food Safety Modernization Act for Northeast agriculture.
- Hank Soule, Sustainable Harvest Sector, presents a groundfish industry update.
This report, titled Northeast Agriculture 2017: Insights and Perspectives, was compiled by Farm Credit East in the first quarter of 2017. To view the report contact your local Farm Credit East office or visit FarmCreditEast.com.
—Farm Credit East
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