Thanks to provisions in the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” base acres are set to increase for farmers starting next year, with the maximum national increase limited to 30 million acres. Farm CPA and RFD-TV Tax Expert Paul Neiffer joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report for a closer look.
In his interview with RFD-TV’s own Suzanne Alexander, Neifer provides details on the increase in base acres, how it varies state-by-state, and which states could see the most significant increases. He also explains how this will affect ARC and PLC payments, and provides other business planning tips for farmers and ranchers to prepare for this change.
Base acres represent a fixed, historical allocation of specific commodity crop acres for a farm, specifically designated for use within the programs administered by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). It’s important to note that these base acres are not contingent upon a farm’s current planting decisions; they are established retrospectively.
The determination of a farm’s eligibility for various government support programs, such as the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) initiatives, is fundamentally based on the established base acres. These government programs provide financial assistance, with payments calculated based on a farm’s historical production records, rather than any current season’s yields.
As the new year begins, both farmers and rural families are taking stock of their finances and planning ahead for 2026.
January 06, 2026 03:23 PM
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Roger McEowen with the Washburn University School of Law joined us to provide legal insight and context on these issues facing agriculture. Today, he discusses pesticide litigation.
January 06, 2026 01:39 PM
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Sen. Deb Fischer reintroduces the HAULS Act to update hours-of-service exemptions and definitions affecting livestock and agricultural haulers. She joins us on Market Day Report to share more about her proposed legislation.
January 06, 2026 01:28 PM
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Last year was a busy year for pesticide litigation in the United States. At No. 10, it kicks off RFD-TV Legal Expert Roger McEowen’s list of the “Top 10” Agricultural Law and Tax Developments of 2025.
January 06, 2026 11:06 AM
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On a spreadsheet, it looks like the ultimate way to harvest extra profit. But in the eyes of the IRS—as RFD-TV Farm Legal & Tax Expert Roger McEowen explains—this “tax-free” bank can quickly turn into a field full of weeds.
January 06, 2026 07:00 AM
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High ownership does not always translate into high output, underscoring the importance of structural differences in understanding state-level farm performance.
December 28, 2025 03:00 PM
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Benchmark machinery costs against those of similar-sized, high-performing operations to inform equipment and investment decisions.
December 25, 2025 12:00 PM
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Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-IA, details how the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) supports farmers, biofuels, and rural communities with tax breaks, crop insurance relief, and ag infrastructure.
December 23, 2025 02:01 PM
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Jake Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance shares risk-reduction strategies to help cattle producers prepare for a successful year ahead.
December 23, 2025 01:45 PM
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