A U.S. senator was a notable attendee at the recent annual Neosho County Farm Bureau meeting on Friday, Aug. 8.
While there, Senator Roger Marshall discussed several measures he said were big wins for farmers and agriculture, which were included in the Republican Reconciliation Bill, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“It’s not lost on President Trump that 97% of rural counties voted for him,” Marshall said. “He really does care about hardworking Americans.”
Marshall said that due to Trump’s leadership, gas prices are down and grocery prices have stabilized.
Marshall then discussed the benefits that local farmers should expect to see from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“Basically, we did a mini farm bill in this legislation,” Marshall said.
The bill included $55 billion to boost the safety net for commodity support, and an additional $4 billion for trade, research, supporting rural schools, and family farms.
Marshall said this also extends several Farm Bill programs through 2031 and raises reference prices.
“Something I think the news media is not catching is how important 45Z is,” Marshall said.
The 45Z Clean fuel production credit offers tax credits for those producing sustainable aviation fuel and biodiesel. According to an informational sheet provided by Marshall’s team, this is aimed at incentivizing farms to supply feedstocks such as soybeans and corn for biofuels.
“That’s not really important for biodiesel, but I think the bigger market opportunity is turning corn and soybeans into jet fuel,” Marshall said. “Not sure what America is going to do, but the EU is going to be requiring it very soon, so that is going to give us a big market.”
The information sheet states that the 45z credit supports farmers by creating demand for agricultural feedstocks in clean fuel production, boosting farm incomes, and aligning with conservative energy independence goals.
Other tax relief measures Marshall discussed include a permanent increase to the estate tax and lifetime gift tax exemption, which amounts to $15 million for single filers, or $30 million for those who are married filing jointly in 2026. The Section 199A Business Tax Extension was made permanent. This extends a 20% qualified business income deduction, which reduces the tax burden for farm cooperatives and small agribusinesses. It also makes bonus depreciation and interest deductions permanent, which Marshall said gives producers tax relief when purchasing equipment.
“All of those are going to help you keep more of your hard-earned money,” Marshall said.
Marshall also touched on trade, saying that seven out of the nation’s top 10 trading partners have already signed trade agreements and said the future is very bright for trade.
Kansas Farm Bureau Chief Strategy Officer Joel Leftwich discussed trade and tariffs during his presentation.
Leftwich said that while he wasn’t a farm kid, he knew how the success of local farmers impacted others in his community of Wellington. There, producing and cattle were two of the main industries. His father was a banker, and his mother worked for a local church.
“I got to know agriculture from the lens or the view of my parents. When ag had a good year, the bank had a good year. The church had a good year. When ag was having a bad year, the entire town felt it.” Leftwich said the U.S.’s three main trading partners are Mexico, Canada, and China, and those countries receive most of what U.S. producers export.
“By the end of last month, we were running at $49.5 billion trade deficit, meaning we are selling less to other people than we are buying ourselves in agriculture,” Leftwich said.
He also noted that 55% of sorghum, 47% of soybeans, 46% of wheat, 15% of corn, and 11% of beef produced in the U.S. is exported abroad.
Leftwich said that it is important to establish trade with countries that are expected to grow, as several of our current trading partners have populations whose growth is slowing or declining, such as China.
Leftwich said another farm bill is in the works in Washington, but that such a bill will require bipartisan effort.
According to Leftwich, the U.S. Ag Partnership Fund works with local and state agencies to inform the public on issues they will vote on. He also noted that 88% Americans trust farmers according to a Gallup poll. It was also noted that less than 2% of the nation’s population are farmers. Leftwich said Americans are looking to their local farmers and are interested in hearing from them on agriculture policy.
Leftwich said it is vitally important to listen, vote, and participate in discussions on issues that impact farmers on the local, state, and federal levels.
“They don’t understand agriculture, and they admit it. But they trust you. They trust the voice of the farmer to educate them about it,” Leftwich said.
In other business, Zach Callaghan, was appointed to the vacant director position on the board. In awards, Neosho County Farm Bureau Board recognized a 150 year old farm, owned by Ronald and Rhonda LaRue, of LaRue Land and Cattle. Over 133 acres were originally purchased in 1869 for $1.25 an acre. The Erie farm has been in the family since 1875.
Farm Bureau Scholarships were awarded to Neosho County Community College student, Mackenzie LaRue and Devin Westhoff. LaRue plans to major in English. Westhoff is currently a Certified Nurses Aide, and plans to obtain his Registered Nursing License with this scholarship. To learn more about the Neosho County Farm Bureau, visit the Neosho County Farm Bureau-KS Facebook Page.
