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

Close up on stack of rough sawn timber pine lumber planks
Ag Economy
2026 Forest Products Outlook: Key Takeaways for a Shifting Industry

From national economic trends to housing demand, lumber supply and global trade shifts, many economic forces are shaping the U.S. forest products industry. In a recent Farm Credit East webinar, Paul Jannke, of Forest Economic Advisors, provided an economic forecast pointing to a year of stability, modest growth and continued adjustment across the forest products sector. The following are the key insights from the webinar. 

April 07, 2026

Drone view of three farm workers harvesting apples
Tax Talks
Revisiting the NYS Farm Employer Overtime Credit for 2026

In this update, we share key 2026 changes to New York’s Farm Employer Overtime Credit, including expanded eligible overtime hours, shifting thresholds, and new certification requirements for all farm employers. We also highlight reminders on payroll adjustments and advance payment options to help farmers stay compliant and prepared for the season ahead.

March 31, 2026

Farms walking in a harvested field at dusk
Ag Economy
From Farm to Forest to Dock: The Northeast’s $225B Economic Engine

As we celebrate National Agriculture Day on March 24, we recognize the contributions of the hardworking agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products producers to our everyday lives here in the Northeast and beyond.

March 24, 2026

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Business Tips and Tools
Protecting yourself from Tax Scams in 2026

Tax season is a busy time — and unfortunately, it’s also a peak season for fraud scams. From fake IRS messages to misleading “tax tips” on social media, fraudsters often rely on urgency and confusion to trick people into sharing personal or financial information. 

March 19, 2026

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