Rural Ohio

The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday stating its opposition to the Build Back Better Act, also known as the reconciliation package.

The letter points to inflation driving up costs across the economy and that greatly increased federal spending is a contributing factor. It identifies federal policy choices that raised energy prices, leading to higher costs for everything from food to used cars and mentioned how this legislation will further exacerbate that pain through a methane tax on oil and gas.

“Our members, like all Americans, are seeing their cost of living continue to rise at a staggering rate. Increasing prices and decreasing availability for many of the things we rely on for our families and our farms are at alarming levels and, as an organization, we struggle to see how the colossal Build Back Better spending bill addresses these issues,” said Ohio Farm Bureau President Bill Patterson. “We are deeply concerned with the extreme ideas in this plan that would make changes in the tax code and impact production practices on farms directly, both of which conflict with Ohio Farm Bureau’s policies set by members at the grassroots level.”

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall also commented on the Build Back Better Act.

“We appreciate House efforts to protect farmers and ranchers by leaving key tax provisions untouched,” Duvall said. “Thousands of small businesses, however, would still be affected by tax increases, forcing them to pass increased costs to families across the nation.”

The legislation also seeks to raise revenue by increasing fines and penalties as much as ten times their current amount for violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Fair Labor

Standards Act and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The letter states that the missteps of farmers and ranchers when navigating complex, oftentimes onerous regulations and laws should not serve as a funding mechanism.

“We urge lawmakers to take a different approach to solving these challenges by focusing directly on the causes of the inflation, supply chain and labor woes we are experiencing today,” Patterson said. “We are asking them to find practical solutions, rather than an unorganized plan spending a massive amount of taxpayer dollars only to create additional uncertainty. It’s time to get back to basics.”

Contact your member of Congress

Leaving stepped-up basis untouched in the current package is a positive development, but there are still concerns about other tax provisions in the plan. Farm Bureau members should continue to call on members of Congress to oppose adding any detrimental tax increases for family farms in this or any other legislation. Use this link to contact your member of Congress.

Read the American Farm Bureau letter.

New and beginning farmers
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Greg McGlinch's avatar
Greg McGlinch

Darke County Farm Bureau

Growing Tomorrow Grant
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
Nathan and Jill Parriman's avatar
Nathan and Jill Parriman

Clermont County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Youth pathways in Farm Bureau
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
Wyatt Morrow's avatar
Wyatt Morrow

Clinton County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Select Partner Program
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Advocacy
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.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

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