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

Public Policy

2024 Farm Bill Update

Tom Cosgrove

The Farm Bill has been bogged down since the Fall while Congress has battled over funding the government. Given it’s an election year, Congressional leaders have acknowledged if the Farm Bill isn’t passed by mid-year, it will likely be extended for another year leaving it for the next Congress to complete. Several Farm Credit backed proposals have been introduced this Congress that would allow Farm Credit to lean into meeting the capital needs of rural America. The intent is for these “marker bills” to be included in the Farm Bill. Here is a summary of four of them.

April 9, 2024

Capital building with farm field background

Latest Tax Talk

Adult male farmer sitting on open trunkbed in a crop field using a laptop
Tax Talks
Life Insurance Redemptions Falling Under IRS Scrutiny

In the context of farming business structures, acquiring a life insurance policy is a prevalent practice. Here are two common scenarios and an update on an ongoing Supreme Court case involving the IRS concerning the valuation of businesses when insurance payouts are implicated and whether such proceeds are deemed liabilities or not.

April 11, 2024

Today's Harvest Blog

close up view of black and white Holstien cow that is looking toward viewer, in a barn with other cows.
Ag Economy
Celebrating National Dairy Month

It’s National Dairy Month, and we couldn’t let the month of June pass by without recognizing the region’s largest agricultural sector — the dairy industry. Dairy and related processing constitute the top agricultural sector in the region, with more than $18.7 billion in direct sales, $34.6 billion in total economic impact and more than 120,000 jobs supported.

June 26, 2023

a bunch of purple grapes and green leaves growing on a vine
Ag Economy
2023 Northeast Wine Grape Outlook

Our recently published, 2023 Northeast Wine Grape Outlook, written by Hans Walter-Peterson, Senior Viticulture Extension Specialist Cornell Cooperative Extension, reviews recent years of grape production, and a forecast of what is to come for 2023.

March 28, 2023

Close up view of harvested yellow apples in large open top storage bins in apple orchard.
Ag Economy
2023 Northeast Apple Industry Outlook

This article takes a deep dive into U.S. apple production, price and export trends in an attempt to unpack a growing concern of many in the industry, what will happen when Washington produces at or near capacity?

March 21, 2023

Pier 3 on the New Bedford, MA waterfront, large commercial fishing vessels in the foreground, New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park district and downtown in the background
Ag Economy
Scallops: The hidden driver of New England’s Fisheries Value

For our 2023 aquatic and commercial fishing outlook, John Sackton, Seafood.com News founder and seafood markets specialist, gives a recap and comparative analysis of the shellfish species contributing to New England Fishery values.  

March 09, 2023

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