Agriculture Reacts to Passage of ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’

After a 218-214 vote, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) headed directly to President Trump’s desk for signature where he officially signed it into law on July 4th.

Agriculture leaders and organizations erupted with reaction. Here’s a closer look at what some of them had to say about the OBBB.

State Agriculture Leaders

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig

“The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act marks a significant victory for Iowa’s farmers and rural communities, delivering permanent tax relief, enhanced death tax exemptions, extension of the 45Z tax credit, and strengthened crop insurance and commodity reference price provisions that help our farmers at a time when there is uncertainty in the ag economy,” Naig said in a statement. “These measures bolster farmers’ financial stability, allowing them to invest in their operations and pass family farms to the next generation without the lingering fear of excessive tax penalties. I want to thank Iowa’s entire federal delegation and President Trump for their steadfast leadership in championing these pro-farmer policies that boost the ag economy and support rural prosperity.”

Looking ahead, Naig urged Congress to “focus on finalizing a modernized, comprehensive five-year farm bill to further help producers manage risk, enhance our voluntary conservation efforts, reinstate robust interstate commerce eroded by Prop 12, and address other emerging and evolving agricultural challenges.”

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller

“On the eve of celebrating our nation’s independence, the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill signifies a historic achievement for American families, farmers, and rural communities,” Miller said in a statement.

“Amid increasing costs, this legislation provides tax certainty for the hardworking individuals who drive our economy and support our nation. From farmers in the Texas Panhandle to cattle ranchers in the Hill Country, it guarantees their effort and labor are recognized and rewarded rather than penalized. The bill broadens deductions for farm equipment, encourages agricultural innovation, and protects the legacy of family-run farms. The bill also delivers a historic $50 billion investment into rural healthcare, ensuring that our farmers and ranchers have reliable access to quality medical services,” Miller added.

"On behalf of Texas agriculture, I thank every member of Congress who stood with the working class and voted to put America first. This victory is more than policy; it’s a set of promises kept to rural America and a bold step toward securing the future of our farms, our families, and our food supply.”

National Advocacy Groups

American Farm Bureau Federation

AFBF President Zippy Duvall kept his comments brief following the passage of legislation that will bring “certainty” to farmers and ranchers. 

“Modernizing important farm safety net programs and making permanent critical tax provisions could be the difference between staying in business or shutting down the family farm,” Duvall said.

He added, “More than half of farmers are losing money, so an increase in reference prices is desperately needed, and tax tools will help farmers and ranchers plan for the next season and the next generation.”

AFBF applauded lawmakers for taking a “big step toward ensuring America’s farmers and ranchers can continue to keep pantries filled for America’s families.” 

National Farmers Union

NFU President Rob Larew began his statement acknowledging the positive aspects of the bill. “We appreciate the efforts of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to include long-overdue investments for family farmers and ranchers in this legislation. The bill strengthens the farm safety net, supports biofuels and conservation, and extends key tax incentives that help keep family farm operations viable. These wins reflect persistent advocacy from our Farmers Union members across the country, who raised their voices during our Week of Action in May.”

Larew expressed concern, as well. “However, these gains are paired with harmful tradeoffs. Cuts to SNAP divide the farm bill coalition and reductions in Medicaid will have harmful effects on millions of Americans. Farm policy should unite us. This approach undermines the foundation of the farm bill and puts its future at risk,” he said.

Looking ahead, Larew urged lawmakers to “finish the job” with a comprehensive farm bill. NFU advocates for a farm bill that “that strengthens rural communities, ensures fair markets, and reflects the full scope of challenges facing today’s farm families,” Larew said.

National Corn Growers Association

In a statement NCGA President Kenneth Hartman, Jr. said, “The legislation contains several important and longstanding priorities for corn growers, including the extension of key tax provisions and investments in commodity and trade promotion programs. Corn growers have been pushing for many of these improvements since at least 2023 and spent much of the last year preparing to shape the federal tax provisions. We appreciate the members of Congress who worked to ensure our views and these provisions were included in the final bill.

Hartman noted corn farmers from around the country plan to fly into Washington, D.C., in less than two weeks to lobby for other priorities including year-round E15 and a mini farm bill.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

“America’s cattle farmers and ranchers are pleased by the final passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill,” said NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane on Thursday. “This legislation will protect family farmers and ranchers from the devastation of the death tax, it will avoid a massive year-end tax hike that could have put cattle operations out of business, it expands and protects many of the small business tax deductions that family producers rely on to save more of the hard-earned money, and it funds critical foreign animal disease prevention measures that protect cattle health.”

The NCBA statement went on to call out lawmakers who were supporters of the legislation “since day one” by name.

American Soybean Association

The American Soybean Association issued a brief statement following the passage of the bill acknowledging the legislation includes several top organizational priorities including securing key farm programs like crop insurance and tax provisions like the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.

“At a time of great uncertainty for the agriculture economy, the support of Congress to enhance key programs and vital domestic markets for our farmers is critical,” said ASA President Caleb Ragland, a Kentucky soybean grower. “ASA thanks the House for maintaining several crucial farm programs and tax provisions that support U.S. soybean growers.”

Biofuels Leaders

Growth Energy

“The President wants to go big on American energy dominance, and this legislation delivers,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy in a statement. “An extension of 45Z will unlock billions of dollars in new investments across rural America supporting strong, stable markets for America’s farmers and positioning American biofuel producers to compete in global fuel markets. We applaud our champions in the House and Senate, who fought hard to ensure that U.S. biofuel producers are positioned to deliver more clean energy, hold down fuel costs, and restore industrial might across the heartland.”

POET

POET published a statement thanking President Trump for securing an extension of 45Z clean fuel production incentives.

“President Trump continues to reassert his support for American farmers and energy independence,” said Joshua Shields, POET’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs. “With this extension signed into law, 45Z is now best positioned to transform U.S. agriculture, providing new markets for farmers and furthering biofuel energy dominance. POET thanks both President Trump and our biofuel champions in Congress for their hard-fought efforts to get this provision across the finish line.”

EDITOR’S TAKE:

The reaction from the ag sector is overwhelmingly positive. There was a lot in the OBBB that directly impacts farmers/ranchers across the nation. The ability to pass on their operation to the next generation without paying inheritance taxes is huge. Add to that the ability to write off capital expenditures in the year purchased is also a very significant benefit. More funding for market development activities will pay dividends for years to come. And the list goes on. This legislation will provide a great deal of stimulus to the ag economy, as well as the overall American economy.

The OBBB is putting farmers/ranchers in a more financially secure position, one that will allow them to invest more in their operations. One thing they will likely invest in is new trucks! This is a great opportunity to reach out to farmers/ranchers in your area, reference the passage of the OBBB and encourage them to visit your showroom, your website or look at all your inventory on AgTruckTrader.com®!