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

Crop Insurance

USDA’s New ASCF Program: What Specialty Crop Growers Should Know (and Do) Right Now

Jeremy Forrett

If you grow specialty crops, there’s a new USDA program worth your attention. The Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program was designed to help producers navigate the financial pressure many faced in 2025. Rising input costs, ongoing inflation and market disruptions all contributed to tighter margins. This program offers a one-time payment to help offset those challenges. 

June 2, 2026

Blooming apple orchard in agricultural field, in summer sun with anti-hail netting for protection against weather factors.

Latest Tax Talk

Tax Talks
Capital Construction Fund: A Fisherman’s Guide to Building for the Future

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.

 

May 26, 2026

Today's Harvest Blog

Map of the New York, New Jersey and New England states with check box above the map that read Your Voice in Ownership
Business Tips and Tools
The Value of the Cooperative Model

2025 marks the International Year of Cooperatives. Additionally, each October is observed as the national Co-Op month to recognize the value of people-centered businesses. Farm Credit East is proud to be a cooperative, collectively owned and operated by its customers. This cooperative ownership means customers have a voice in their cooperative through a customer-elected board of directors who are also customer owners. 

October 16, 2025

Business Tips and Tools
Strengthening Your Digital Security: Why Multi-Factor Authentication Is Essential at Farm Credit East AND in your personal life!

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time when organizations across the country come together to promote safer online practices. At Farm Credit East, we take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to protecting your financial information and to highlight one of the most important tools available to do that: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

October 14, 2025

Ripe bunch of purple grapes on vine with green leaves
Crop Insurance
2025 Grape Harvest Update: Appraisals, SDRP & New Insurance Opportunities

As we embark on the 2025 grape harvest, those who insure their crop must be proactive in ensuring accurate production records and timely completion of appraisals. This year also brings some changes to crop insurance options, so it’s critical producers stay informed. This article provides tips and reminders on these important topics. 

October 07, 2025

Capital building with farm field background
Public Policy
The Federal Government is Shut Down. Here’s What you Should Know

As of 12:01 AM October 1, 2025, the Federal Government has shut down until congress can agree on a funding bill. It’s anyone's guess as to how long the shutdown will last, so in the meantime, here’s what agricultural producers should know. 

October 02, 2025

Meet the Authors

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