Ag Industry Trends & Outlooks

The first of its kind in the United States, Farm Credit East's FarmStart offers opportunities to early-stage producers with passion, drive and the skills to succeed with a new agricultural, fishing or forestry business venture. In this 20-year report, we celebrate the program and several current and graduated FarmStart participants.

Northeast farmers have faced significant challenges from severe weather events in recent years. For producers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine impacted by weather-related losses in 2023 and 2024, funding has been made available to help recover losses, rebuild operations and strengthen long-term business resilience. The program is funded through USDA resources and administered by state departments of agriculture.

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.

Whether you already own rural land or are searching for your future construction site, building a home in the country doesn’t have to be a hassle. Read on for tips from the team at Country Living Loans for building your dream rural home — from lot purchase to final mortgage.