COMMON GROUND SUMMIT DRIVES POLICY CHANGE AND RALLIES SUPPORT FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS

 

The Common Ground Summit, a landmark gathering of agricultural stakeholders held in April, is making significant strides in shaping policies to protect America’s family farms and ranches. As a direct result of the summit’s advocacy, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) introduced the Helping Ensure Rural Inheritance Transfers Are Generationally Enduring Act, or HERITAGE Act, June 2.

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This legislation aims to preserve family-owned farms and ranches by amending the Internal Revenue Code to increase the special-use valuation cap for farmland from $750,000 to $15 million, easing the burden of federal estate taxes that often force heirs to sell productive land.

 

Joe Goggins, a Montana rancher and auction market owner, said the bill addresses a critical issue discussed at the summit.

 

“By raising the valuation cap, the legislation helps ensure that grieving families are not forced to sell their inheritance and livelihood to pay the death tax,” he said. “This not only helps preserve agricultural heritage and rural economies but protects America’s food supply.”

 

In addition to this legislative success, the Common Ground Summit has sparked a grassroots movement among cattle producers. Hundreds of individuals have signed on with the initiative through a campaign launched online and at auction markets nationwide, demonstrating widespread support for the policy priorities agreed upon in Denver this spring. This momentum underscores the summit’s role as a catalyst for uniting producers, policymakers and industry leaders around shared goals.

 

The Common Ground Summit is aligned on the following focus areas:

 

• Achieve and maintain ag-friendly tax policy

• Make risk management tools more effective

• Improve access to labor

• Increase flexibility for livestock haulers

• Create support for young and emerging livestock producers

 

These policy priorities, detailed fully on commongroundsummit.net, are the only issues being advocated for.

 

“The Common Ground Summit has proven to be a powerful platform for uniting the agricultural community and driving impactful policy solutions like the HERITAGE Act,” said Turk Stovall, summit moderator. “The overwhelming support from cattle producers shows that our shared vision for a sustainable and prosperous future for farms and ranches is resonating across the country.”