Happy New Year! 

Welcome to 2026! A new year always brings a fresh wave of energy to our agriculture community. While fields rest under winter skies, planning is in full swing; producers are reviewing last year’s lessons, fine-tuning management plans, and exploring new practices to strengthen both productivity and sustainability. January offers a great moment to regroup, set priorities, and lean into the innovations and strategies that support a stronger year ahead. It’s a season of reflection, preparation, and thoughtful optimism across our food and farm systems. As the calendar turns, it is a crucial time for everyone connected to the agriculture sector including producers, researchers, suppliers, policymakers, and consumers to strategically plan and assess priorities. The long-term success of our food and fiber systems hinges on collective understanding and proactive collaboration across the industry.

January is traditionally a slower period for fieldwork, making it the perfect time to shift focus from the harvest to the spreadsheet. This is a critical window for strategic planning, financial review, and preparation that sets the foundation for a successful and profitable season. Here are some things to consider:

1.Financial Review and Goal Setting

Now is the time to finalize your 2025 records and begin forecasting for 2026.

-Review Your 2025 Performance: Analyze production records against input costs. What crop rotations or practices yielded the best returns? Identify areas where high input costs did not translate into proportional yields.

-Establish Key Benchmarks: Set clear, measurable goals for 2026, whether it’s optimizing labor efficiency, reducing specific input costs, or hitting target yields.

-Secure Financing: Meet with your lender to review your operating loan needs and terms based on your 2026 financial projections.

2. Input Inventory and Procurement

-Supply chain fluctuations and early order discounts make January a key month for locking in inputs.

-Take Inventory: Know exactly what you have left over from last season—especially seeds, fertilizers, and specific chemicals.

-Order Early for Discounts: Check with your suppliers on early-order programs for fertilizer and chemicals. Locking in prices now can offer significant cost savings and ensure you have the necessary products when planting begins.

-Maintenance Schedule: Order necessary replacement parts for your tillage and planting equipment now to avoid delays once the spring rush hits.

3. Regulatory Updates and Training

-Regulations and best practices are constantly evolving. Use this time for administrative compliance and professional growth.

-Compliance Check: Review any new state or federal regulations regarding pesticide application, water usage, or labor standards that take effect this year.

-Training and Certification: Renew any necessary certifications (e.g., private pesticide applicator license). Take advantage of winter workshops or online courses to sharpen your skills in areas like integrated pest management (IPM) or precision agriculture technology.

-Marketing Strategy: Revisit your marketing plan. Are you locking in forward contracts? Are you exploring new markets (e.g., direct-to-consumer, farmers markets, specialty processors)?

Here’s to a year filled with growth, creativity, and strong connections in agriculture. Stay bundled up, stay inspired, and embrace all the possibilities 2026 has to offer.

In partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, we are conducting a survey…

NYS has a diverse food and beverage manufacturing industry, both in the types of sectors that exist and the wide range of firm sizes. Manufacturing companies have strong backward linkages to the state’s agricultural production sectors, supporting both farm-level operations and downstream food industry firms and consumers. All food, beverage, food ingredient, and animal feed manufacturing businesses in the state are strongly encouraged to participate and share their insights. More responses will improve data quality and offer a clearer view of industry barriers and opportunities in NYS.

In partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, we are conducting the survey to:

• Identify opportunities for business retention and growth that boost firm competitiveness,
• Find solutions to expand NYS food products in institutional markets,
• Evaluate the added economic impacts of public funds supporting capital investments in food, beverage, and animal feed manufacturing, and
• Provide policymakers and business leaders with information to boost the industry’s future success.

The Qualtrics survey will take about 20-30 minutes to complete. To help firms complete the survey, publicly available Word and PDF versions are available HERE, and will help you understand the questions beforehand.

Alternatively, firms can complete the survey using the fillable PDF and return it either in hard copy or by email. If a firm has multiple processing facilities in the state, only one survey is needed. Participation does not require ownership of the facilities. If you contract with a co-packer, co-manufacturer, or shared-use kitchen, please complete the survey. If you are a co-packer or co-manufacturer for others’ products, or if you own your own processing facilities, please complete the survey. It is important that responses accurately reflect the distribution of firms in the state, including what they produce and the size of the firm.