Congress has a big agenda this year between budget talks, the Farm Bill, and various other ag policy concerns. However, the American Farm Bureau says action on tax policy should be a top priority, starting with the estate tax.
“Families are already going through a very difficult time when they lose a loved one and are passing the farm on, and so, this adds an additional burden of trying to come up with up to 40 percent of your farm’s value to pay the IRS. Most of farm assets come from non-liquid assets, mainly land. So, as land becomes more valuable, even when farms are facing losses, they’re now being pushed above that exemption level due to rising land values,” said Samantha Ayoub.
The Farm Bureau says at the end of the day, it all comes down to giving farmers and ranchers certainty, adding without permanent changes, farmers and ranchers are at risk.
Ag industry leaders and lawmakers are urging continued support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), citing strong export growth, supply chain integration, and economic benefits for U.S. farmers ahead of the pact’s July review.
February 11, 2026 12:17 PM
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The agreement formalizes coordination between the two departments to address security concerns affecting U.S. agriculture.
February 11, 2026 11:05 AM
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Federal assistance has helped, but the most recent row-crop losses remain on producers’ balance sheets.
February 09, 2026 01:07 PM
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OODIA’s Lewie Pugh discusses the EPA’s new Right to Repair guidance and other regulatory developments impacting the trucking and agriculture industries.
February 09, 2026 12:47 PM
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NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart breaks down CAFO permits, EPA enforcement, and what cattle producers need to know as rules continue to evolve.
February 09, 2026 12:21 PM
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RFD NEWS correspondent Frank McCaffrey spoke with U.S. Congressmen Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and John Rose (R-TN), who say bipartisan cooperation will be key to getting the Farm Bill to the president’s desk.
February 09, 2026 11:46 AM
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