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.
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ARC/PLC, marketing loans, and crop insurance each matter at different points in the price cycle — and the new Farm Bill strengthens the balance among them.
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Kate Walker has the story, highlighting how students are learning to protect and preserve natural resources while gaining valuable technical and teamwork skills.
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Experts highlight the importance of monitoring insecticide resistance in crops and improving disease traceability at livestock shows through RFID technology.
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Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share his perspective on what the bill could mean for truckers.
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Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.
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