Spring is one of the busiest times of the year on a farm. Even if things are busy, keep health and safety to the forefront of what you do.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing up to $10 billion directly to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. Eligible producers must report 2024 crop year planted and prevented planted acres to FSA on an FSA-578, Report of Acreage form. Contact your local FSA office for more information.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding farmers to be mindful of conditions that are high risk for runoff.

Farming comes with plenty of challenges, and property taxes is a pretty big one of them. In New York, the Agricultural Assessment Program helps lower property taxes for land used for farming. Every year, if you own or rent farmland, this program can save you money. Here's what you need to know to take advantage of this benefit AND connect with rented landowners to ensure they're receiving this benefit. 

Win a grain rescue tube and training for your fire department! Nationwide Insurance once again is teaming up with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), Peosta, Iowa, to award emergency first responders with grain rescue tubes and hands-on rescue training to help save lives.

Biologicals are a hot topic in agriculture. This article highlights the uncertainties we face with their use, especially considering our different cropping systems. 

Corn stunt is a new corn disease that has been identified in four New York Counties this year. Symptoms present similarly to other stresses in corn, including drought, soil compaction, and phosphorous deficiency. 

The sun is still shining, crops are still growing, and your mind is probably the farthest it possibly can be from tax planning. But - Fall is a great time to focus on tax planning and managing your tax liabilities. By creating a tax strategy BEFORE January 1^st, you'll avoid those (always fun) December 31^st equipment purchases and (less fun) stress and headaches. 

From Ken Wise - NYSIPM, Cornell University. Recent outbreaks of equine encephalitis highlight the urgent need for effective mosquito control measures on farms. This disease is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, with the black-tailed mosquito, Culiseta melanura, serving as a significant vector. 

Are you a dairy producer interested in on-farm dairy processing? Looking to diversify your operation with direct to consumer sales? Interested in value-added production? Tired of scouring the internet to find a whole lot of information that you're not sure actually applies? Here's a great place to start!!!

With the recent flood damage, crops were unfortunately damaged. This article highlights how to manage crops that were damaged by floods. 

Flooding has had a devastating impact in the region this past weekend. Regardless of whether a few acres or several fields were affected, it is helpful to get out and scout your crops to understand the impacts. Cornell Cooperative Extension reminds farms affected by recent storm damage to document and share any impacts the weather may have had on their home or business.