Agriculture is the cornerstone of Wisconsin and the backbone of our nation. Our farmers don’t just feed our state, they keep America running. When agriculture succeeds in Wisconsin, families across our country benefit. We are the Dairy State, and here, agriculture isn’t just an industry — it’s a way of life.
For generations, Wisconsin farmers have built more than businesses — they’ve built legacies. Family farms are defined by a commitment to passing something better on to the next generation. But for years, the death tax has put that legacy at risk.
The value of family farms are tied up in land, equipment, and livestock. When a large tax bill comes due, families shouldn’t be forced to sell off acres, take on massive debt, or dismantle their operation just to keep up with Washington.
Without action, the estate tax exemption was set to be cut in half, forcing Wisconsin farmers into impossible choices: sell land, take on significant debt, or shut down entirely just to pay a tax bill.
That’s why President Donald Trump and Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act to put a stop to that uncertainty.
By permanently increasing the estate tax exemption to $15 million per individual, this bill ensures Wisconsin families can pass their farms down to the next generation without fear of losing everything they’ve built.
Without the threat of the death tax hanging over them, farmers can invest their resources to their operations. That means upgrading equipment, improving land, hiring workers, and expanding production. The impact goes far beyond the farm.
The Working Families Tax Cuts Act also delivers significant investments in farm programs and crop insurance, providing stability in an unpredictable industry. It expands support for specialty crops, which is critical for Wisconsin, the number one producer of cranberries in the world. It invests in agricultural research and infrastructure to keep American farmers on the cutting edge. And it enhances livestock biosecurity, helping protect producers from devastating animal disease outbreaks.
At the same time, the bill delivers real tax relief farmers can feel immediately, expanding small business deductions, allowing full and immediate expensing of capital investments, and supporting the construction of new production facilities. It also renews Opportunity Zones with a stronger focus on rural communities, helping drive investment into places like western and northern Wisconsin.
At its core, this is about protecting the American Dream. It’s about ensuring a family farm isn’t the end of a story, but the beginning of the next chapter. It’s about giving the next generation the opportunity to carry on the traditions that define Wisconsin.
This National Agriculture Week, we thank the hardworking men and women who fuel America. I will always fight for policies that protect Wisconsin farmers, because when Wisconsin succeeds, America succeeds.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden represents Wisconsin’s 3rd District in Congress.
