Keeping the family farm in the family
The 2025 tax law permanently raised the estate-tax exemption to $15 million per person, $30 million per couple, indexed to inflation, instead of letting it fall to about $7 million in 2026.
Agriculture & Rural America
The farmers and ranchers who feed the country, and the land they hand down.
7 wins
A $12 billion lifeline for farmers
USDA delivered $12 billion in direct emergency aid to farmers and ranchers.
China and Bangladesh agree to buy soybeans
The administration negotiated large soybean purchase agreements with China and Bangladesh, aimed at reopening export markets for American farmers.
Local meat could cross state lines again
September 2026 orders aim to restore small processors' ability to sell meat across state lines, promote fair competition in livestock markets and cut crop-insurance premiums.
$8 billion to blunt the diesel spike
On Oct. 19 USDA announced $8 billion in one-time payments to farmers to offset high diesel costs; per-crop rates are due in November and the application window has not been announced.
Eight new fertilizer projects
On Oct. 22 USDA announced eight projects with about $573 million in federal funding and about $1.34 billion in total investment, adding roughly 1.08 million tons of fertilizer capacity a year.
Diesel exhaust fluid rule scrapped
The administration eliminated a diesel exhaust fluid requirement, saving family farmers an estimated $727 million a year.