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

Business Tips and Tools

Key Updates to H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates for Northeast Agricultural Employers

Austin Weaver

On October 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a new Interim Final Rule (IFR) that significantly revises how Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) are calculated for H-2A guestworkers. AEWRs set the minimum hourly wages that must be paid to H-2A workers and those in corresponding employment. This rule introduces major changes affecting wage structures across Farm Credit East’s eight-state region, with important implications for farm operations and labor management.

November 4, 2025

Farm workers harvesting vegetables in a field near a red tractor with a wagon

Latest Tax Talk

male farmer working on a laptop computer on his truck hood in front of a cow pen
Tax Talks
Maximizing Your Farm’s Bottom Line: Income and Expense Reporting

Filing farm taxes doesn’t have to be confusing. The IRS requires you to report all income unless specifically excluded, and only deduct expenses that are both ordinary—common in farming—and necessary—helpful for your business. Understanding these basics can save you time and stress.

October 27, 2025

Today's Harvest Blog

Woman Farmer Drinking Water in Shade During Harvest Hard Work on Potatoes Field
Business Tips and Tools
Staying Safe in Hot Weather

As the Northeast experiences more extreme weather, heat stress is a growing concern for farmers and farm workers. Because they spend significant time outdoors doing physically demanding work, this population is particularly vulnerable to heat-related health effects. 

June 26, 2025

Business Tips and Tools
Exceptionally Wet Weather Conditions Lead to Delayed Planting in New York

While corn and soybean crop planting is slightly ahead of last year nationally, it is way behind in New York and across the Northeast, due to unusually cold and wet weather, making field work difficult. 

June 24, 2025

A row of eight to ten black beef cows standing in a grass field
Crop Insurance
Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Expanded Coverage: What Livestock and Dairy Producers Need to Know

The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced significant updates to the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program for the 2026 crop year, effective July 1, 2025. These changes are designed to give producers more tools to manage risk and better align coverage with market dynamics. 

June 16, 2025

Caucasian man farmer standing in field with tablet device in hands and showing something to woman on screen.
Business Tips and Tools
Proactive Strategies for Business Success: Preparing your business for the long term

If retirement is on the horizon, the sooner you can start thinking about succession planning, the better. Whether your plan is to transition your business to the next generation or a non-family successor, you should be speaking to a consultant or advisor on how to make it a smooth transition. 

 

June 11, 2025

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