MI Farm News: One big, beautiful win for Michigan farmers

Michigan farmers work from dawn to dusk to put food on tables in our communities and all across the world. As the most agriculturally diverse state in the country with reliable access to fresh water and more than 45,000 farms spanning 9 million acres, agriculture is a cornerstone of Michigan’s identity and economy.  

However, without reliable and consistent support, the future of Michigan’s agricultural industry and the rural communities that depend on it face uncertainty.

Fortunately, to deliver relief for our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers, Congress passed, and President Trump signed into law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The One Big, Beautiful Bill produces real results for Michigan’s agricultural community by cutting taxes for farmers by over $10 billion and permanently extending many important tax provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to empower family farms and our agricultural producers.  

This historic legislation supports family farms by doubling the death tax exemption and indexing it for inflation each year to protect family farms from the death tax’s 40% rate. Had this critical provision expired, 2 million family-owned farms, including 43,302 farms in Michigan, would face an increased death tax.

The One Big, Beautiful Bill makes it easier to pass farms from one generation to the next, securing the legacy of family farming and ensuring that families who are grieving the loss of a loved one don’t face an additional burden.

Other vital tax provisions will help farmers save money, which can be used to pay bills or invest in new technologies. The One Big, Beautiful Bill helps 98% of farming operations that are taxed according to their owners’ individual tax rate by permanently extending the small business deduction.

This, combined with various expense provisions for new tools and agricultural equipment, will enable farmers to invest more in their operations, boosting investment in our local agricultural businesses. 

Along with strengthening risk management tools to protect against agricultural losses and stabilize the farm economy, this landmark legislation also includes the first meaningful investment in the farm safety net since 2014. These strategic investments will help address the decline in the farm economy, providing farmers with the certainty they need to continue their operations. 

Furthermore, the One Big, Beautiful Bill will help Michigan farmers compete by expanding agricultural trade and specialty crop programs. In 2024, Michigan’s agricultural exports reached almost $3 billion. By reducing barriers to trade and investing in export promotion through programs like the Supplemental Agricultural Trade Promotion Program and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, we can increase the sale of agricultural goods abroad.

Michigan farmers feed our families, steward our land, and fuel our economy. These critical reforms aren’t just smart policy; they’re essential for protecting rural livelihoods, encouraging agricultural innovation, and fostering a more resilient food system. 

Like fertilizer nourishes the soil, the One Big, Beautiful Bill will ensure that Michigan’s agricultural community has the nutrients necessary to flourish. With its help, we will restore rural prosperity for those in Michigan and across the country.