As a sixth-generation Iowan who grew up around my family’s century farm, I know what it means to pass something down to the next generation.
For Iowa’s farmers, National Agriculture Day and Iowa Agriculture Week aren’t just about the hard work that goes into every season — they’re a reminder of the legacy behind this way of life and a commitment to making sure the next generation can carry it forward.
The problem: For Iowa’s 87,000 family farms, the death tax has always created uncertainty for families trying to pass their land to the next generation.
Layer on rising input costs and market volatility, and the math gets even harder — forcing families to take on debt or sell acreage just to afford the tax burden that comes with it.
The solution: We secured stronger, permanent tax protections in the Working Families Tax Cuts so farm families aren’t forced to sell what they’ve spent a lifetime building just to pass it on.
That means:
🌽 Raising the estate tax exemption to $15M per individual and $30M per couple
👨🌾 Protecting more family farms during land transfers
📈 Giving families certainty to plan ahead and keep the farm in the family
Why it matters: Two-thirds of Iowa farmland is owned by a farmer 65 or older. A wave of generational farm transfers is coming — and whether that land stays in the family or gets sold off will shape the future of Iowa agriculture for decades.
Bottom Line: The best way to celebrate Iowa’s farmers is to make sure the next generation can follow in their footsteps — and that’s what I’ll keep fighting for.