April is National Internship Awareness Month. Join us all month long as we catch up with past AgChoice interns. Joining us is Caleb Wright with Versant Strategies, a public affairs firm located in Harrisburg, PA which specializes in agriculture, rural affairs, education and environmental issues. Caleb reflects on his internship experience, what he learned and how it helped him get to where he is today.
AgrAbility PA project is designed to assist farmers and other agricultural workers with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Joining us is Kendra Martin with AgrAbility here in Pennsylvania. She will help us learn more about AgrAbility and how the program has helped keep farmers farming. Find out more: agrabilitypa.org
Marlene Kaltenbach with PA Farm Link joins us for this episode. Farm Link is a non-profit organization here in Pennsylvania with a mission to “link farmers to the future.” • Now's the time if you've been unsure about joining PA Farm Link's online land database! From now until April 1st, join for FREE, email farmland@pafarmlink.org for full details.
The maple syrup season is right around the corner. Joining us for our podcast is Jeremy Walters of Wagner’s Maple Sugar Camp. Discussing the process of sap to syrup, Jeremy will share more about their operation.
In this episode we highlight how the pandemic changed the farm and land real estate scene. Joining us is Martin Heaps, a realtor with Howard Hanna. He works with all types of real estate, but especially has a strong concentration of farm and land sales in southcentral Pennsylvania.
Join us for another customer spotlight, Way Fruit Farm from Port Matilda. Way Fruit Farm is a fruit farm and also includes a retail facility where they sell their fruit, seasonal local vegetables, grocery items as well as have a bakery and deli. Megan Coopey is the sixth generation on the farm. She shares how their farm adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tax credits aimed to help farm start-ups are here. Pennsylvania’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit provides an incentive to lease or sell land, buildings and/or equipment to beginning farmers. In this episode, we’re pleased to have Darrin Youker from PA Farm Bureau join us to share more about the program. The application window for the 2020 tax year recently opened and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds are expended. Complete program guidelines, eligibility, and application i...
AgChoice Farm Credit is hosting a "Farming for the Future" webinar series all winter long. Our second webinar held this last week featured Amanda Radke. Amanda is a fifth-generation rancher from South Dakota, an international speaker, children’s book author and blogger for BEEF Magazine. She joined our webinar to discuss Shifting Your Mindset and Shaping New Opportunities for the Future. ------- Register for our remaining webinar in the Farming for the Future webinar series. March 4 will feature...
The Resource Enhancement and Protection program (REAP) allows farmers, landowners and businesses to earn tax credits for implementing Best Management Practices to enhance farm production and protect natural resources. Last year, Joel Semke, REAP Coordinator for the PA Department of Agriculture and State Conservation Commission, joined us last year for a full episode on the basics of REAP . Today, Joel joins us to discuss common questions about the program....
January 23 is National Pie Day. We celebrate with a customer spotlight: Sand Hill Berries. In this episode, we speak with Susan Lynn of Sand Hill Berries, a small fruits farm in southwestern Pennsylvania. In addition to the berries and fruits grown, Sand Hill Berries is also known for their baked goods, and especially their delicious pies. Today we’ll learn from Susan about the operation and specifically a bit more about their pies.
In this episode, Raechel speaks with Dr. Patreese Ingram, assistant dean of multicultural affairs with Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, about diversity awareness in agriculture. As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day next week, we recognize Dr. King and many others who led our nation with dreams of empowerment and inclusion. Dr. Ingram joins us to discuss steps we as individuals can take to increase our own understanding of diversity and inclusion.
AgChoice Farm Credit is hosting a "Farming for the Future" webinar series all winter long. Our first webinar kicked off this past week with featured speaker Dr. David Kohl. As this week’s bonus podcast we are sharing a clip from that webinar where Dr. Kohl talks about what to expect in the 2020’s which he calls the decade of the economic and financial divide. Enjoy Dr. Kohl’s discussion! ------- Register for our remaining webinars in the Farming for the Future webinar series. Webinars are held o...
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is an annual celebration of the agriculture industry in the commonwealth. While this year’s Farm Show may be a bit different because we can’t gather in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has been busy preparing for a virtual event, to held January 9 – 16.
Join us for our final episode for 2020. Even with all of 2020’s challenges, we know there have been some bright spots along the way too. Enjoy this moment of positivity in your day as we end the year with bright spots.
The year-end often has us considering how well we did, where we measured up, and what we are going to do the following year. As we near the end of 2020, we’re glad to have Darrell Curtis, president and CEO of AgChoice Farm Credit, back on the podcast to share an AgChoice update.
Join us for another customer spotlight. Miller Plant Farm is a farm and garden center located in York County. Among the many plants grown are poinsettias, which are always a holiday favorite this time of year. Dustyn Miller shares more about their operation and helps us understand what we should look for when selecting a poinsettia.
A year-end financial check-up has many benefits from farm businesses. Today Larry Labowski, senior loan officer, will help us understand what should be included in a year-end check-up and resources available to help. *We need you! Calling all bright spots. Even with all of 2020’s challenges, we know there have been some bright spots along the way too. Take a 10 to 20-second audio or video clip of yourself sharing your bright spot and then email it to us at knowledgecenter@agchoice.com . You may ...
Each holiday season a difficult choice confronts shoppers: celebrate with a real tree or an artificial tree? Tune into this episode to hear Nate Meiser, AgChoice executive loan officer, explain why a real Christmas tree is a natural choice.
During this Thanksgiving season we are grateful for farmers who grow and raise the food for our tables, and today we’ll learn from the Esbenshades about the turkeys they raise. Clair, Todd and Kyle Esbenshade operate a diversified farm in Beaver Springs, Snyder County, including raising turkeys.
On November 18, the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance clarifying that business expenses paid with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds that are forgiven CANNOT be deducted for federal tax purposes. Dan Faye, AgChoice’s accounting manager, and Dan Brogdon, former AgChoice loan officer and now business development officer, closely follow the PPP program. They will discuss what this means for farms and agribusinesses with PPP loans.
During this time of Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the role of the entire food system in helping our neighbors in need – from the farmers to the food banks. We are joined by Jane Clements-Smith, executive director of Feeding Pennsylvania, to discuss Feeding Pennsylvania and the role of food banks in helping our neighbors in need.
Join Cory Mellott, crop insurance specialist with AgChoice Farm Credit and Crop Growers, LLC, as he talks about a specific challenge for the dairy industry - volatility. Cory discusses risk management tools available to dairy producers and how to effectively make risk management decisions.
Veterans Day Special: Podcast Edition! In this episode, Mimi Thomas-Brooker, with the PA Veteran Farming Project, discusses veterans in agriculture and resources to help them be successful.
In this episode, Dave Fleming discusses farm tax planning strategies. Dave is a farm accounting officer with AgChoice Farm Credit. Farm taxes have many nuances, especially in a year like 2020. Listen on to hear his perspective.
In this episode, Kurt Beshore, AgChoice loan officer, discusses prepayment penalties. He explains what they are and the hidden costs to be aware of.
The future of agriculture is dependent on the next generation. Join Raechel Sattazahn, AgChoice Farm Credit knowledge center director, as she talks about the importance of our next generation and how it relates to the future of agriculture. She addresses details on agriculture careers and provides us with resources to help us spread the word about careers in our industry. · Ag and Food Careers in PA website: www.agandfoodcareersinpa.com · AgChoice resources: www.agchoice.com/teacherresources...
Kenny Nearhoof, AgChoice Farm Credit accounting officer, helps us understand why tax planning is a bit unique for farmers this year and offers guidance on how to avoid any surprise tax bills. He discusses the COVID-relief programs and explains what farmers should know from a tax planning standpoint.
