Today’s Harvest Blog

Today’s Harvest is a valued, timely resource for stories, news, tips and information relevant to Northeast agriculture and our customers.
Farm tractor in a field during the fall harvest

Latest From Today's Harvest Blog

Farm Credit

Employee Spotlight: A Day in the Life of Tax Specialist Phil Murphy

Elisabeth Olcott

As a tax specialist with Farm Credit East's Financial Accounting Services (FAS) team, Phil helps agricultural businesses navigate everything from annual tax preparation and year-end planning to farm transitions and succession planning. While tax season is certainly a busy time, his work extends far beyond April deadlines. 

November 3, 2026

Photo of Phil Murphy, Fam Credit East Tax Specialist

Latest Tax Talk

Close-up of a fuel pump showing diesel and gasoline grade buttons, with the Tax Talks logo.
Tax Talks
Update: Diesel Fuel Tax Provisions

Earlier this month, Executive Order, Emergency Tax Relief on Diesel Fuel, was signed by the President with the purpose of deferring certain diesel fuel tax payment obligations and to provide penalty relief. As a result, the IRS acted and indicated it will not impose a penalty when dyed diesel fuel is sold for use or used on highways nationwide. 


October 22, 2026

Today's Harvest Blog

side profile view of employee business woman wearing casual shirt sitting working at office desk with laptop pc computer indoors sign documents writing something
Tax Talks
Important Update Regarding Life Insurance Redemptions

In April, we discussed that the Supreme Court was hearing arguments in the Connelly v U.S. case regarding life insurance proceeds. With this case now decided, it will be important for individuals and small businesses owning life insurance to fund buy/sell agreements to include a review of these policies.

July 05, 2024

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

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