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

Tag: payroll 
Family, farm and cattle with a girl and father walking on a field or grass meadow in the agricultural industry.
Business Tips and Tools
Vermont Saves Retirement Savings Program

Vermont Saves is a retirement savings program created to give an option to employers that do not offer retirement benefits. The Vermont Saves Program allows employees to contribute to their own Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) through automatic payroll deductions. 

 

April 01, 2025

Pregnant woman visit doctor at hospital or medical clinic for pregnancy consultant.
Business Tips and Tools
NYS Paid Prenatal Leave: Effective 1/1/25

Starting January 1, 2025, the New York State Paid Prenatal Leave Law requires all private sector employers in New York State to provide their employees with 20 hours of Paid Prenatal Leave each year.

January 16, 2025

Close up on a file tab with the word employees plus a note with the text sick leaves, blur effect at the background. Concept image for illustration of sick leave entitlement.
Business Tips and Tools
Changes to Connecticut Paid Sick Leave

Employers in Connecticut with 50 or more employees in specific sectors are required to have paid sick leave. Effective January 1, 2025, employers with at least 25 employees will be required to offer paid sick leave.  

December 27, 2024

Business owner with financial paperwork doing calculations
Financial Management
Vermont Child Care Credit – What You Need to Know

Beginning July 1, 2024, Vermont employers and self-employed individuals will begin making contributions composed of a 0.44% payroll tax on wages and a 0.11% self-employment income tax to the Vermont Department of Taxes for deposit into the Child Care Contribution (CCC) Special Fund.

July 18, 2024

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