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

Crop Insurance

USDA’s New ASCF Program: What Specialty Crop Growers Should Know (and Do) Right Now

Jeremy Forrett

If you grow specialty crops, there’s a new USDA program worth your attention. The Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program was designed to help producers navigate the financial pressure many faced in 2025. Rising input costs, ongoing inflation and market disruptions all contributed to tighter margins. This program offers a one-time payment to help offset those challenges. 

June 2, 2026

Blooming apple orchard in agricultural field, in summer sun with anti-hail netting for protection against weather factors.

Latest Tax Talk

Tax Talks
Capital Construction Fund: A Fisherman’s Guide to Building for the Future

If you’re a commercial fisherman planning to build, buy, lease or rebuild a vessel, the Capital Construction Fund (CCF) can be one of the most powerful tax planning tools available to you. The CCF lets you set aside income today, defer federal income tax and use that money later to invest in your fishing business. Let’s discuss the details of this program.

 

May 26, 2026

Today's Harvest Blog

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

Aerial view of a drone flying over forest, monitoring and analyzing in forestry management.
Innovation and Emerging Markets
What’s the Return on AI in Agriculture?

In agriculture, change is a constant. With the many variables those in agriculture deal with each day — weather, wildlife, disease, markets, consumer preferences — technology may be one of the easier variables to adapt, adopt and hopefully add value to the operation for the long term. In fact, farmers are often early adopters of new technologies, but what benefits can new technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), bring to an operation? Let’s break it down.

 

October 22, 2024

Person touching virtual shield, secure access, encrypted connection. Password protected system and storage.
Business Tips and Tools
Stay Cyber Safe: 6 Tips to Spot Email Spoofing

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Farm Credit East is committed to providing awareness of common online threats like fake emails (phishing or spoofing), harmful software (malware), and trickery (social engineering), as well as providing the resources and support you need to understand and navigate these challenges. Learn how you can protect yourself. 

 

October 15, 2024

 A corn field and farm buildings in the Finger Lakes Region of Upper New York with Tax Talk logo in lower right corner
Tax Talks
A Guide for Understanding New York State Land Credits

As we navigate the complexities of tax season, it's essential to stay informed about the various credits and deductions available to you. One such benefit is the Farmers School Tax Credit (FSTC), a valuable resource for those engaged in the business of farming. This blog aims to provide a high-level overview of the FSTC and Manufacturer’s real property tax credit to ensure you have the information needed to maximize your tax savings.

October 08, 2024

Meet the Authors

Connect with and discover our Today’s Harvest blog authors and their broad range of financial and northeast agricultural expertise.