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

Public Policy

2024 Farm Bill Update

Tom Cosgrove

The Farm Bill has been bogged down since the Fall while Congress has battled over funding the government. Given it’s an election year, Congressional leaders have acknowledged if the Farm Bill isn’t passed by mid-year, it will likely be extended for another year leaving it for the next Congress to complete. Several Farm Credit backed proposals have been introduced this Congress that would allow Farm Credit to lean into meeting the capital needs of rural America. The intent is for these “marker bills” to be included in the Farm Bill. Here is a summary of four of them.

April 9, 2024

Capital building with farm field background

Latest Tax Talk

Adult male farmer sitting on open trunkbed in a crop field using a laptop
Tax Talks
Life Insurance Redemptions Falling Under IRS Scrutiny

In the context of farming business structures, acquiring a life insurance policy is a prevalent practice. Here are two common scenarios and an update on an ongoing Supreme Court case involving the IRS concerning the valuation of businesses when insurance payouts are implicated and whether such proceeds are deemed liabilities or not.

April 11, 2024

Today's Harvest Blog

Inside view of greenhouse with hanging flower baskets
Ag Economy
2024 Green Industry Outlook

Dr. Charlie Hall of Texas A&M University gives a Green Industry update and economic outlook for 2024, including a look back at 2022, landscape sector resilience, the varied profit levels seen across the industry in 2023 and look to the implication of new technology and innovation.

 

March 13, 2024

Close up view of harvested yellow apples in large open top storage bins in apple orchard.
Ag Economy
2024 Northeast Apple Industry Outlook

The following report utilizes data from the U.S. Apple Association’s monthly storage survey (USAppleTracker) along with publicly available data on movement, trade and prices to unpack the season to date and see how markets are reacting to, what is by all accounts, a banner year.

March 11, 2024

Caucasian man farmer standing in field with tablet device in hands and showing something to woman on screen.
Business Tips and Tools
Are You Grant Ready?

Grants are competitive, but there’s a lot in your control to prepare for success. Read these helpful tips to get you started.

March 07, 2024

Close up of commercial maple sugaring evaporator and dipper, steam is rising from evaporator pans as sap is heating up.
Ag Economy
2024 Maple Industry Outlook

In this year’s Maple Industry Outlook, Mark Cannella, Associate Professor with the University of Vermont Extension, gives insight into the maple industry in the U.S. and Quebec, including important financial market factors, climate concerns and crop volatility, and a strategic outlook for the year ahead.

March 05, 2024

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