Here are some links that you may find helpful and interesting. The linked sites will open in a new window so you won't lose your place on the First Pioneer Farm Credit web site. When you are finished browsing the linked sites, simply "minimize" or close the window.

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Ag-related companies

www.fcleasing.com. Farm Credit Leasing underwrites First Pioneer's equipment, vehicle and building leases. Learn more about the largest leasing company exclusively serving agricultural and rural America. This site also lists used equipment for sale.

www.minnesotamutual.com. Learn more about Minnesota Mutual, the insurance company that underwrites Farm Credit's credit life insurance program.

www.rcis.com. Rural Community Insurance Services underwrites multi-peril crop insurance and crop hail insurance programs.

www.rainhail.com Rain and Hail Insurance Service, Inc.


Cooperative Extension & Institutes

ARM New York Program. Cornell University, in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Farm Credit and New York Farm Bureau, have teamed up to develop and deliver a curriculum for risk management and business planning. Visit http://www.agrisk.cornell.edu to join a local discussion group

ceinfo.unh.edu/. (University of New Hampshire) Information on forest and wildlife resources, youth and families, sustainable natural resources and the economy.

www.cce.cornell.edu. New York Cooperative Extension site contains current issues along with an extensive collection of program information and other available resources.

cpdmp.cornell.edu. Cornell Program on Dairy Markets and Pricing site includes publications, forecasts, addresses, workshops, presentations, benchmarks, milk order reform information, dairy links and data. You can use the Cornell Price Estimates Calculator to find out how the new milk pricing system affect past milk checks.

www.FarmTransferNewEngland.org Farm Transfer Network of New England is a network of organizations and professionals in the six New England states whose integrated resources help farm families transfer their farm. Offering an online listing of organizations, programs, firms and consultants, educational materials and educational events.

www.nyfarmnet.org/ - Helping Farm Families Find Solutions. To provide farm families with a network of contacts and support services to help them develop skills for dealing with life challenges and transitions - through personalized education, confidential consulting, and referral.

www.northeastnewfarmer.org. A Web site devoted to new farmers who are farming or hope to farm in the Northeast and to the service providers who are helping them succeed. Offers connections to programs, services, events and resources for new farmers throughout the 12 Northeast states

www.umassextension.org. (University of Massachusetts) A wealth of information, including programs, events, a directory of extension offices throughout Massachusetts and extension publications.

www.osp.cornell.edu/VPR/. (Cornell) The web site for the office of the vice provost for research. Links to Cornell's centers, laboratories, institutes and programs. Access to their Small Business Development Directory, annual report and quarterly newsletter.

www.whminer.com. The William H. Miner Agrricultural Research Institute provides practical information supporting their mission of demonstration, research and education related to North Country agriculture.

Customer sites

www.bishopsorchards.com. Bishop's Orchards, of Guilford, Connecticut, has provided the finest farm produce since 1871. Farm market, bakery, pick-your-own and gift packs are just a few of the selections on this colorful web site.

www.brokenarrownursery.com A wholesale and retail nursery business located in Hamden, CT, Broken Arrow Nursery sells a wide range of container grown and B&B nursery material along with a line of perennials. The nursery is known for their Christmas Trees and for their Laurel. Richard Jaynes, the owner of Broken Arrow Nursery is a renowned Laurel expert and has authored several books on the plant.

www.cavicchio.com Located in Sudbury, MA, Cavicchio's is a wholesale plant materials and landscaping suppler for the Northeast. The site features illustrated catalogs of annuals, perennials, landscaping materials, the ability to order online along with a free e-mail information plantline subscription.

www.churchillsgardens.com. A garden center located in Exeter, N.H. offers gardener's how-to's, gardening getaways, gardening news, a Kid's Club and product information on their site.

www.clforestry.com. Charles Leigus Forestry and Logging is a full service company operating throughout Connecticut. Charles offers a range of forestry services to landowners and land management decision makers. The site has illustrations and explanations of these services.

www.countryflowerfarms.com Country Flower Farms is located in Middlefield, CT and sells high-quality annuals, perennials, herbs, nursery stock, statuary and a line of hardgoods to retail patrons in Middlefield and the surrounding towns.

www.davisonforestry.com
The company specializes in professional forestry services and high quality timber harvesting, as well as soil science work from State Certified Foresters and a Certified Soil Scientist. They offer a wide range of soil science services, including wetland delineation, soil mapping, Army Corp delineation, wetland functional assessments and public testimony.

www.drewfarms.com. Drew Farms, of Westford, Mass., features fresh cut flowers and floral arrangements for all occasions, gift baskets, decorating items, fresh produce and their own fresh squeezed cider.

www.duffieldsfarm.com. Located in Sewell, N.J. outside of Philadelphia, Duffield's is more than a farm market, bakery and delicatessen. This 80-year-old business raises 35 varieties of fruits and vegetables on 130 acres. An active calendar of events, hayrides, field trips and even lesson plans complement this site.

www.freundsfarmmarket.com. Freund's Farm Market is a family owned and operated farm market and greenhouse located in scenic North Canaan, CT. The market offers a wide variety of plants, produce, nursery stock, baked goods and catering services. In addition to photographs of the market, the site includes a link to "Cow Pots" which were recently featured on the Discovery Channel's show, "Dirty Jobs".

www.indianladderfarms.com. Indian Ladder Farms is a multi-generational farm located in Altamont, NY. They are currently growing apples, high tunnel raspberries, pumpkins and other fruit crops. They are very well-known for their bakery and their restaurant, Yellow Rock Café. Come and enjoy the views of Helderledge.

www.holdridgegarden.com Spring and Summer are Just Around the Corner. Come take a look in our Greenhouse and enjoy the beautiful surroundings as you walk through our nursery stock and water garden shed. We have fertilizers, garden tools, and lawn sculptures Inside; and of course our True Value department can accommodate all of your Hardware needs. Be sure to check out the Gift and Florist departments for unique deco ideas.

www.jacquierauctions.com. A full service, professional auctioneering service with the personal commitment of a family-run business. The site features a list of upcoming auctions, sign-up for a mailing list and see what others have said about their service.

www.joepeckonline.com. Joe Peck is a dairy farmer, accomplished writer, and humorous writer. Joe's musings of life on his dairy farm in the town of Saratoga, N.Y. have been collected in a 230-page book called "A Cow in the Pool, & Udder Humorous Farm Stories." Joe with his son, David, milk 100 registered Holsteins at Peckhaven Farm, a Dairy of Distinction, near Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

www.kernsnursery.com. Kern's Nursery is a retail nursery and greenhouse located in Jewett, NY. Owners Bob & Patricia Kerns are well-known for their outstanding garden design and landscaping. Visit their many display gardens to see what you can create.

www.lymanorchards.com. A farm market located in Middlefield, Conn., Lyman Orchards can boast about its Hi-Top Apple Pie, voted the best in Connecticut. It is equally proud of Lyman Orchards Golf Club, ranked among the top public courses in the state.

www.marshallfarm.com. Marshall's Apple Farm, the "Country Apple" in Fitchburg, Mass. Click here to learn about their school tours, fall weekend festivals, gift baskets, family hayrides and more.

www.meadorchards.com. Mead Orchards, LLC is a retail and wholesale fruit and vegetable farm located in Tivoli, NY and is owned and operated by the Mead family . The primary manager of the business - Chuck Mead - has expanded the apple orchard over the past few years to include a wide variety of berries and stone fruit such as plums and peaches. The business was established by Chuck's parents over 50 years ago and maintains an excellent reputation in the area. .

www.millane.com. Millane Nurseries’ wholesale and retail nursery operations offer more than 850 varieties of the finest trees, shrubs and perennials, high quality Okatsune Tools, and a vast array of statuary and giftware to both the wholesale and retail markets. The Millane family invites you to visit their 87-year old business located on Main Street in Cromwell, Conn., "a short, pleasant drive from any part of the state.” Just look for their Gazebo, a town landmark since 1934!

www.noursefarms.com. Nourse Farms, located in Whately, Mass., is a multi-faceted farming business selling to the commercial grower, as well as the home gardener. Principal products include strawberry and raspberry plants, rhubarb divisions, blueberry bushes and asparagus roots. Nourse Farms also sells fresh strawberries and raspberries on a wholesale and U-Pick basis.

www.uphillfarm.net Uphill Farm, LLC is located in beautiful Dutchess County, NY. Over the last ten years, Uphill Farm has been a premier breeder of Belted Galloway Cattle..

www.pioneergardens.com. Pioneer Gardens Inc. was founded in 1996. They produce and market bare root perennial plants, as well as 2" and 3" plugs from their modern open roof Westbrook greenhouses. Pioneer Gardens direct markets its products, primarily to wholesale container growers. In the last 3 years Pioneer Gardens' customer base has expanded significantly and now includes many prominent wholesale nurseries throughout the United States and Canada.

www.pvg.com. Pleasant View Gardens, located in scenic Loudon, N.H. and owned by the Huntington family. Information about the quality plant material they produce for the public. Also important facts about "Proven Winners," annuals, perennials and herbs.

www.robertbaker.com. The Robert Baker Companies, offer a wide range of specialty and specimen plant material wholesale to the professional plantsman. With headquarters in Suffield, Conn., they stock a vast assortment of fruit, shade and ornamental trees around the country. Also available are bare root trees, container plants and field grown trees and shrubs.

www.rosesberryfarm.com. Rose's Berry Farm. Since 1910, the Rose family has been farming in South Glastonbury, Conn. They grow the finest berries in Connecticut and offer you the freshest produce, homemade treats, and a taste of country each time you visit. The Rose's invite you and your whole family to share their plentiful bounty each and every season.

www.shaverhillfarm.com Shaver-Hill Farm offers maple syrup products on their online shoppe! Check out the many sizes and packaging choices! They have the perfect gift for anybody on your list. Looking for something unique? Ask about their custom orders!

www.stonegategardensinc.com. Stonegate Gardens grow and supply wholesale specimen trees to the trade nationally. They also offer full service landscape design and installation for residential and commercial clients in the northeast. Their site has a photo gallery and catalogs of their field and container specimens.

www.storysnursery.com. Story's Nursery is a retail nursery and greenhouse business located in Freehold, NY. Story's specializes in growing unique bedding plants, perennials and nursery stock. Owner Ken Thompson is well-known for his landscape design. Stonegate Gardens grow and supply wholesale specimen trees to the trade nationally. They also offer full service landscape design and installation for residential and commercial clients in the northeast. Their site has a photo gallery and catalogs of their field and container specimens.

www.sunnyborder.com. Sunny Border Nurseries grows perennials, grasses, ferns, alpines, herbs and vines. With 70 years of growing experience, they have introduced many new plant varieties into the trade.

www.sunnybordergold.com If you are a serious gardener who wants to add drama to your garden, this is the site for you.

www.troyslandscapesupply.com Troy's Landscape Supply Co., Inc. is a wholesale and retail nursery and greenhouse center providing the Albany, NY Capital District with a wide variety of nursery stock, annuals, perennials, and gardening items.

Disaster resources

http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/ - This FSA site provides information about the Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003. Frequently asked questions, important dates and program information are included along with a Crop Disaster Program calculator.

www.agctr.lsu.edu/eden/ - the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is a portal for state extension information on a full range of disasters. A searchable database is available for information on specific situations. Links to a variety of educational programs and materials are also provided.

Farm Credit System Entities

www.cobank.com - through the sale of Farm Credit debt securities, CoBank and other Farm Credit System banks obtain funding through the national money markets. The funds are then distributed through a nationwide network of local retail Farm Credit Associations, such as First Pioneer Farm Credit, to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, rural homeowners and agricultural cooperatives.

www.fca.gov - The Farm Credit Administration is an independent agency in the executive branch of the U.S. Government, responsible for the regulation and examination of the banks, associations, and related entities that collectively comprise what is known as the Farm Credit System.

www.fcsic.gov - The Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation was established by the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 as an independent U.S. Government controlled corporation. The Corporation's primary purpose is to ensure the timely payment of principal and interest on insured notes, bonds, and other obligations issued on behalf of Farm Credit System banks.

www.fccouncil.com - The Farm Credit Council is the trade association of the Farm Credit System. The mission of the Farm Credit Council is to enhance the competitive environment for the Farm Credit System by promoting and protecting the legislative and regulatory interests of System institutions.

www.farmcredit-ffcb.com - The Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation manages the sale of System-wide securities in the nation’s capital markets. System-wide securities are the primary source of loan funds for the Farm Credit System.

Farm organizations

www.nhstories.org - To differentiate New Hampshire's products and services in the marketplace, the New Hampshire Stories program promotes the people, products, and services of New Hampshire. Click here to go directly to the marketing section.

www.nhplantgrowers.org The New Hampshire Plant Growers' Association provides the industry professional and gardening enthusiast with information about the association, its membership, related events, links and its endowment program.

www.workinglandsalliance.org Working Lands Alliance is a broad-based coalition with the sole purpose of preserving Connecticut's most precious natural resource - its farmland.

www.cfba.org Connecticut Farm Bureau's site has information on joining, legislative issues, educational events, bureau contacts and more.

www.FlowersPlantsInCT.com Connecticut Green Industries represents over 1,000 Connecticut companies that grow, sell, deliver and install flowers and plants. It is a $500 million industry, the biggest part of Connecticut agriculture.

Federal Reserve

www.federalreserveeducation.org This site offers an easy to understand introduction to the workings of the Federal Reserve System. Click on FED101, for easy-to-understand lessons on the Federal Reserve's role in the U.S. economy. You can also learn the Fed's history, its structure, and its functions in the areas of monetary policy, banking supervision and financial services. Interactive graphics and a series of quizzes and self-tests makes the learning a bit more fun.

Financial software

www.redwingsoftware.com. You'll find answers to just about any question you could ask about Red Wing's management software for agricultural operations and agribusiness: AgCHEK, Payroll, Business Accounting.

State departments of agriculture & USDA

www.usda.gov/homelandsecurity/materials.html This portion of USDA's Keep America's Food & Agriculture Safe site contains a variety of informational materials, fact sheets, links, how USDA is responding and what you can do to help information.

National Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS) - a wealth of current and historical data and analysis of ag business and methods in their covered territories. You can also subscribe to a wide variety of email delivered reports.

• www.nass.usda.gov/nj/ - New Jersey
• www.nass.usda.gov/nh/ - New England
• www.nass.usda.gov/ny/ - New York

www.nyserda.com. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers cost-sharing and low-interest financing programs to help farms save energy, develop new products and increase profits.

www.state.ct.us/doag/. (Connecticut) Listings of many agricultural activities that take place throughout Connecticut, assistance to ag-businesses and information about the department's services.

www.state.ma.us/dfa/. (Massachusetts) A bounty of information on Bay State agriculture, food and horticulture. Examples of information include monthly farm and market reports, a grower discussion, jobs and a buy/sell forum.

www.state.nh.us/agric/ (New Hampshire) A wide range of information on agriculture development, animal development, pesticides, plants, markets and weights and measures.

www.state.nj.us/agriculture/. (New Jersey) Agency information including links to various departments and frequently requested programs along with news releases, publications, videos and special announcements.

www.agmkt.state.ny.us/. (New York) A variety of agency information including administrative and program directories and employment opportunities. Also offers assorted links to consumer, producer and department programs.

www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/agricult/ (Rhode Island) Agency information, notices, newletters, directories, and a variety of links of interest to producers.

www.ams.usda.gov/directmarketing/. Agricultural Marketing Services Farmer Direct Marketing site includes publications, farmer market directories, state direct marketing resources, resources and links, information about the service and a "Where can I get assistance for my market or project" feature.


Weather

www.weather.com. One of the best sources for weather services, including radar, satellite, temperatures, precipitation and local, regional, national and global weather maps.

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