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

The Value of the Cooperative Model

Kristie Matuszewski

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

Map of the New York, New Jersey and New England states with check box above the map that read Your Voice in Ownership

Latest Tax Talk

Close-up of a U.S. Treasury tax refund check and IRS form 1042-S on top of a financial statement. Symbol of federal tax return and income reporting.
Tax Talks
Federal Government to Phase Out Paper Checks: What It Means for You

Early in 2025, the federal government announced an Executive Order aimed at modernizing how federal payments are handled. Under Executive Order 14247, signed in March 2025, all federal disbursements and receipts will transition to electronic formats by September 30, 2025. This change will impact individuals, businesses and organizations that receive or make payments to the federal government. 

September 30, 2025

Today's Harvest Blog

Cow milking facility and mechanized milking equipment
Crop Insurance
Boosting Dairy Farm Resilience: How the DRP Program Helps Manage Revenue Risks

The dairy industry is inherently unpredictable, with market fluctuations, weather conditions, and production variables all contributing to an unstable income landscape for dairy farmers. Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) is a valuable tool to mitigate these risks and provide a more stable financial footing.

June 03, 2025

Hail Caught in Netting in Apple Orchard with damaged yellow apple and green tree leaves.
Crop Insurance
Crop-Hail Coverage: Providing Peace of Mind in the Middle of the Storm

The Northeast U.S. frequently experiences severe weather, including hail, which can severely damage crops and lead to major financial losses for farmers. Due to the unpredictable nature of hailstorms, crop-hail insurance is a crucial safeguard for agricultural businesses. This type of insurance helps cover losses from reduced crop quality and yield caused by hail damage.

May 23, 2025

 herd of cows eating hay and man in barn on dairy farm
Crop Insurance
Managing Dairy Revenue Risk

The dairy industry is inherently unpredictable. Market fluctuations, weather conditions and production variables all contribute to an unstable income landscape for dairy farmers. Dairy Revenue Protection, commonly referred to as DRP, is a federally subsidized program designed to help dairy producers manage revenue risk. This program offers dairy farmers a way to protect against unexpected declines in quarterly revenue from milk sales.

May 06, 2025

Crop Insurance
USDA Emergency Commodity Assistance Program: Applications Open

The USDA’s Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) opened applications on March 19, 2025, providing $10 billion in economic assistance to farmers. This initiative is part of a broader $31 billion package approved by Congress in December 2024, aimed at supporting farmers affected by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. The USDA plans to release initial payments, covering 85% of the total, with supplemental payments expected in the summer. 

April 03, 2025

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