NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — One of the biggest threats to farm succession is the federal estate, or “death,” tax. Without recent changes, many family operations — like renowned California rancher Kevin Kester’s Bear Valley Ranch — would have faced significant tax burdens when passing land and equipment to the next generation.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, which passed in July, permanently increased the unified credit to $15 million per individual beginning in 2026, indexed to inflation. That compares with approximately $7 million under the prior law, a level that could have compelled many farm families to sell assets to pay their tax bills.
National Agricultural Law Center senior staff attorney Rusty Rumley says the higher credit and portability provisions for married couples mean most farms will avoid immediate estate tax exposure. Still, he warns that succession planning remains a larger concern. Sudden illness or death of a farm operator can leave successors unprepared, and a lack of planning can fracture families or force financial hardship.
Tony’s Farm-Level Takeaway: Estate tax relief reduces pressure, but succession planning remains the critical challenge for farm families.
So, what’s the path forward for “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill” tax legislation? That’s the topic of today’s
Firm to Farm blog post by RFD-TV legal and tax expert Roger McEowen with Kansas’ Washburn School of Law.
Today’s Firm to Farm blog post by RFD-TV legal and tax expert Roger McEowen provides a brief summary of the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill.” If passed in its current form, the legislation would represent the largest tax cuts in history.
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Happy National Small Business Week!
This
Firm to Farm blog post by farm legal and taxation expert Roger McEowen of the Washburn School of Law discusses the Small Tracts Act and resolving issues with the US Forest Service.
Farm legal and taxation expert Roger McEowen discusses the rise of drone technology in agriculture and how the ”plain view” doctrine could inform future regulatory law and insurance inspections of farmland.
April 27, 2025 03:50 PM
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Farm legal and taxation expert Roger McEowen briefly discusses a range of topics related to farm-related taxes, estate planning, and farm transitions.
April 20, 2025 03:34 PM
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