Farm groups celebrate President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill”

Several ag groups scored a big win over the long weekend as Congress met their deadline for the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” with President Trump signing it into law on Independence Day.

It was touch-and-go for a large portion of last week, with lawmakers scrambling to make deals as the clock ticked down. The Farm Bureau had long backed the bill, and the group says engaging with lawmakers made all the difference.

“They described the current agricultural economy, the toll of extreme weather events that they’ve seen as of late, and the ongoing challenges of keeping farms in the family. First-hand accounts remind lawmakers just how important it is to ensure that there is support for farm and ranch families in this legislation,” said the Farm Bureau’s Emily Buckman.

Other ag groups are also celebrating the bill’s passage. The National Pork Producers Council thanked both congressional ag committees for their work on the bill. They say several key areas were addressed, like foreign animal disease prevention, as well as maintaining market access for U.S. pork, which includes $286 million for a supplemental ag trade promotion program.

NCBA is also weighing in, saying the tax breaks in the bill will help keep farmers on the job. Some provisions include an increase to the death tax exemption at $15 million per individual and $30 million per couple. Farmers can save on equipment as well as the bill will allow farmers and ranchers to deduct up to $2.5 million in equipment expenses.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska joined us with the latest on efforts to secure year-round E15 sales.
Nearly everyone in the South Texas ag community appears extremely worried about the potential of a New World screwworm epidemic, according to a local veterinarian. RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports.
Large-scale land purchases signal rising competition for ranchland, reinforcing its value while reshaping long-term access and control in rural agriculture.
Brian Earnest, an animal protein economist with CoBank, shares insights into current demand trends and the challenges facing broiler production.
Jack Hubbard, with the Center for the Environment and Welfare, shares context and perspective on the controversial letter about Prop 12 circulating in Washington and how a review shows it misled the public.
AFBF Economist Faith Parum discusses the financial challenges currently facing farmers and the Farm Bureau’s 2026 outlook for the farm economy.