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

Ag Economy

2024 Forest Products Outlook Summary

Farm Credit East Knowledge Exchange

2023 was a challenging year for wood products markets. Rising interest rates hampered demand while capacity ramped up across the south. Paul Jannke, a forest industry expert with Forest Economic Advisors (FEA), recently presented his perspective on the region’s forest product markets and economic outlook.

April 26, 2024

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

Agricultural potato harvest with harvester
Crop Insurance
3 Special Crop Insurance Options for Northeast Potato Growers

2023 was a wet growing season in the Northeast. As a result, the more than 240 Northeast potato producers growing 63,000 acres of potatoes endured a tough growing season loss. Many Northeast potato farmers use crop insurance to help manage this risk. Below are three endorsements that tailor the USDA RMA potato crop insurance policy for potato operations.

January 30, 2024

red barn with snow on the roof in winter
Crop Insurance
Crop Growers Year-End Reflection

"Not every day is perfect, but having the ability to make a difference in an agricultural operation allows me to walk away with such fulfillment." As the year comes to a close, Crop Growers crop insurance agent Daniele Harris reflects on 2023 and looks forward to continuing to help Northeast producers in 2024. 

December 19, 2023

A row of eight to ten black beef cows standing in a grass field
Crop Insurance
What’s the beef with Livestock Risk Protection?

What’s the beef with Livestock Risk Protection? Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) has grown in popularity as the U.S. has experienced record high beef prices. LRP is a subsidized risk management program designed to insure against unexpected declines in livestock prices. 

November 07, 2023

Close up view of harvested yellow apples in large open top storage bins in apple orchard.
Crop Insurance
Risk Management Agency Develops New Policy for Apple Producers

The Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) Apple Crop Insurance Policy has become a mainstay of risk management in the United States apple industry. The working relationship between apple producers and RMA has resulted in a program that met most of the industry’s needs. 

October 02, 2023

Meet the Authors

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