farm with cornfield

American Farm Bureau Federation is asking farmers and ranchers to urge their lawmakers to support House and Senate legislation to eliminate the estate tax.
The current but temporary estate tax exemption of $11 million per person has allowed farmers and ranchers to expand their businesses, upgrade buildings and purchase needed equipment and livestock, rather than spend their money
on life insurance and estate planning. More importantly, when a family member dies, the family can keep a future in farming, without having to sell land, livestock or equipment to pay the tax. The exemption is indexed for inflation while continuing stepped-up basis and portability between spouses.

“In spite of this much-appreciated relief, estate taxes still hang heavy over many family farm businesses. Farm and ranch assets are usually tied to illiquid assets such as land, buildings and equipment. When estate taxes on an agricultural business exceed cash and other liquid assets, surviving family members have few options other than to sell off farm and ranch assets, placing their business at risk,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a letter to Capitol Hill lawmakers.

Duvall also noted that in 2026, the estate tax exemption reverts to $5.5. million per person, which will force many farmers and ranchers to divert resources from their agricultural business for estate tax planning – unless Congress extends the higher estate tax exemption rate.

“The American Farm Bureau believes that tax laws should protect, not harm the family farms that grow America’s food and fiber, and give sons and daughters the ability to follow the agricultural legacy of their parents,” he wrote.

The Farm Bureau-backed Death Tax Repeal Act of 2021 (H.R. 1712, S. 617) was introduced in the House and Senate earlier this month, and Farm Bureau members are encouraged to contact their members of Congress in support of the bills. According to AFBF analysis, not repealing the estate tax threatens more than 74,000 family farms across the country and nearly half of all farmland.

Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
Mandy Way's avatar
Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
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Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
Jaclyn De Candio's avatar
Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
Jenna Gregorich's avatar
Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
Jared Hughes's avatar
Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
Austin Heil's avatar
Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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