Search

Join Farm Credit East on Wednesday, April 5, at 12 p.m. for a free webinar that will provide a recap of the Northeast commercial fishing industry in 2022, as well as economic projections for the year ahead. 

Farm Credit East recently hosted a discussion of lumber markets, pulpwood and biomass, as well as the health of the forest industry supply chain going into 2022. Eric Kingsley, a forest industry consultant with Innovative Natural Resource Solutions LLC, presented his data and perspective on the region’s forest products markets and potential impacts on the economy.

2021 was an unpredictable year with the impact of COVID-19 on dairy farm operations, as well as schools and foodservice markets still being felt. What does 2022 look like? Farm Credit East and Cornell University’s Dr. Chris Wolf recently presented Farm Credit East’s annual dairy outlook webinar. 

Cyber scams are becoming all too common. In 2019, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded more than $3.5 billion in losses to individuals and businesses. Especially during a time of crisis, hackers will be the first to take advantage of the situation — and people’s fears. As of October 2020, the Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers have reported losing more than $160 million from COVID-19 and stimulus related frauds. In this issue’s cover story, learn about the types of scams hackers are deploying and tips to protect yourself and your information.

The last decade has been the warmest on record, with 2020 being the second warmest year ever reported. This has brought climate change and environmental protection to the forefront - and agriculture plays a critical role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. In this issue’s cover story, learn more about the environmentally preferable practices Northeast operations are implementing as they work toward reducing their carbon footprint and conserving natural resources. Also in this issue, meet this year's 33 scholarship recipients aspiring to careers in agriculture, forest products, commercial fishing and related fields. 

Dr. Mark Stephenson, Director of Dairy Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, presented his annual economic outlook for the dairy industry on January 15, 2020. Farm Credit East's Tristan Peterson, Northeast Marketing Agent, also joined to highlight the Dairy Revenue Protection program.

This educational webinar covered the payroll and tax provisions outlined in the newly passed Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Senior Tax Consultant, Dario Arezzo, reviewed some of the provisions outlined in FFCRA, including emergency leave and payroll tax credits. In addition, key tax provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act – including filing deadline changes, rebates, retirement accounts and more – were also covered.

John Sackton, founder and publisher of Seafood.com News, provided an update on the current status of some key Northeast shellfish species, with a particular focus on the long-term success and sustainability of the scallop fishery.  

Significant disruptions to U.S. agriculture, including shutdowns at a number of meatpacking plants and major declines in food service markets have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, the USDA developed a number of relief programs to assist producers who have been impacted by the loss of markets and the general economic downturn. American Farm Bureau Federation Chief Economist, John Newton, discussed these issues in a webinar on June 4, 2020.