NCBA Secures Wins for Cattle Farmers and Ranchers in the One Big Beautiful Bill

“Since day one, NCBA has been working with Congress to make sure the One Big Beautiful Bill includes policy priorities for America’s hardworking family farmers and ranchers,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman. “I’m proud that this legislation protects farms and ranches from being split up and sold off to pay a high Death Tax bill. I’m also glad the One Big Beautiful Bill protects pro-business tax deductions for cattle producers, lowers our taxes overall, and funds programs like the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, Livestock Indemnity Program, voluntary conservation programs, and invests in keeping foreign animal diseases out of the United States.”

All of NCBA’s tax priorities are included in the One Big Beautiful Bill along with numerous Farm Bill provisions.

Tax Provisions for American Cattle Producers

Death Tax: The bill increases the Death Tax exemption to $15 million per individual or $30 million per couple, adjusted annually for inflation. This means if the value of your farm or ranch plus equipment, cattle, and other assets are less than $15 million individually or $30 million as a couple, you will pay no Death Tax. The Death Tax has forced many farmers and ranchers to sell off land, equipment, or cattle to pay the high tax. NCBA supports fully eliminating the Death Tax, but until then, this increased threshold is a huge victory for protecting more family farms and ranches than ever before.

Section 199A: The Section 199A Small Business tax deduction is made permanent at 20% by this bill. Section 199A allows small businesses, like family farms and ranches, to deduct 20% of their business income, helping them save more of their hard-earned money.

Section 179: Section 179 allows small businesses to deduct the cost of equipment. Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, farmers and ranchers will now be able to deduct up to $2.5 million in qualified equipment expenses. The phaseout threshold for this deduction is increased to $4 million and these limits will be adjusted annually for inflation.

Bonus Depreciation: Bonus depreciation allows small business owners to deduct the cost of equipment upfront, rather than deduct depreciation over several years. Under this bill, 100% bonus depreciation is made permanent.

Disaster-Related Casualty Loss: The Big Beautiful Bill permanently extends itemized deductions for personal casualty losses resulting from federally declared disasters. This is an extension of the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act that was previously supported by NCBA and enacted in December 2024.

Farm Bill Provisions for American Cattle Producers

Livestock Forage Disaster Program: The Big Beautiful Bill increases to two monthly payments for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and expands the program by allowing it to kick in after 4 consecutive weeks of drought, rather than the previous 8 consecutive weeks.

Livestock Indemnity Program: The bill funds indemnity payments at 100% of the market value for livestock losses due to predation and 75% of market value for losses due to adverse weather. Additionally, there will be payments made for the loss of unborn livestock.

Voluntary Conservation Programs: The Big Beautiful Bill funds several voluntary conservation programs for six years, including:

• $18.5 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
• $8.1 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program.
• $4.1 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
• $2.7 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Animal Disease Prevention: The bill increases annual funding for animal disease prevention and cattle health to $233 million per year. This funding goes towards the “three-legged stool” programs that NCBA supports, including:

• $153 million per year for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB), which houses the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine and test kits.
• $70 million for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).
• $10 million per year for the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP).

Additionally, the One Big Beautiful Bill does not include controversial provisions to sell public lands or expand eminent domain.

“NCBA thanks our state affiliates and congressional leaders for passing this legislation and we thank President Trump for signing it into law, showing he is a true friend to America’s cattlemen and cattlewomen,” Wehrbein added.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has represented America’s cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy.  As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef.  Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org.