Our team has been at a full sprint pace here the last couple of weeks with programs and projects. We love getting to create content and provide information for you!
Photo by Jordan Whitt
Let’s get caught up on some of the biggest ag law stories in the news recently.
*White House budget plan would slash funding for USDA. This week, a number out outlets reported that a proposed White House budget could result in massive cuts to the USDA, in particular, to the funding for local FSA and NRCS offices. [Read article here.] This resulted in an interesting conversation with some industry representatives this week, where they encouraged all landowners and producers to create their online account at farmers.gov in order to be prepared to apply for programs and provide information online rather than at local offices should these cuts come to fruition.
*Completing the ECAP application. Many farmers will qualify for payments under the recently-announced ECAP program, which will provide economic assistance to farmers due to economic losses during the 2024 growing season. The ECAP application deadline is August 15, 2025. Iowa State University’s Center for Ag Law and Taxation recently published a blog post walking through the application process for ECAP. Likewise, Texas Corn producers published a great article highlighting five things to know about ECAP.
*Considering the Residual Fertility Deduction. In recent months, I’ve gotten several questions related to the residual fertility tax deduction. Essentially, this deduction is available if land is purchased with a residual fertilizer supply attributable to fertilizer applied by the prior owner. There is, however, some mis-information out there about the ability to claim this deduction and the limitations surrounding the deduction. Luckily, Kristine Tidgren and Dario Arezzo are here to help! They recently published this blog post outlining the rules and concerns landowners should consider prior to taking this deduction. I was so impressed with their work, I invited them to join me for a conversation on this topic on my Ag Law in the Field Podcast, which is available here or on your favorite podcast app.
*Spring stock show report. I appreciate how many of you follow along with my kids’ stock showing adventures. We had a great Spring run with big wins at the NWSS Breeding Sheep show in Denver, our county stock show, and a sale qualifier at our first San Antonio market lamb show!
Upcoming Programs
Next week, I will be on the Texas Coast! On Thursday night, I’ll be in Robstown talking estate planning at a Farm Hope event. This is a free event with dinner provided, but you do have to pre-register here. Then, on Friday and Saturday I will be the lecturer for the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management Real Estate Law for Ranchers course. This is always a great event, and I am excited to have the opportunity to teach here again.
To see my complete list of upcoming programs, click here.
