As a farmer, there is likely no time of the year that is more exciting, and holds more hope, than planting season. Being weeks away from that time doesn’t diminish the anxiousness we have or the optimism we take with us in all we do on the farm.

So, while we wait for spring, we are just as busy ramping up our advocacy efforts with a new General Assembly in session, a new Congress convening, and a new administration taking the reins in Washington.

We always enter this time of advocacy with the same hope and optimism as we do in our farm fields. And to be honest, advocating for our agriculture industry can be just as important to our success as our growing season.

Having just finished with the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention, more than 5,000 advocates made their way to this annual event from all corners of the country to make their voices heard, celebrate their accomplishments throughout the past year, and plant the seeds of hope when it comes to meeting the challenges we face on the farm and in our rural communities.  

Once again Kentucky Farm Bureau showed up in a big way. It makes me so proud to see such involvement by our grassroots members as we do our part to cultivate a successful advocacy season.

During this General Assembly session, we are hopeful for passage of legislation that will update the “Selling Farmer Tax Credit.” This current law has been impactful to Kentucky agriculture by enticing landowners to sell their land to a buyer who makes a commitment to keeping it in production agriculture. This new proposed legislation would be instrumental in helping to keep farmland in production by: 

1. 1. Establishing a definition of an active farmer by using the USDA FSA definition and allows all active farmers to participate in the program, which is currently          only eligible for beginning farmers.
2. 2. Allowing a $25,000 per year tax credit ($100,000 lifetime) if a seller sells their farmland to an active farmer.
3. 3. Allowing a $50,000 per year tax credit ($200,000 lifetime) if a seller sells their farmland to a beginning farmer.
4. 4. Updates the beginning farmer definition to require they be an active farmer with less than 20 years of farmland ownership.
5. 5. Requiring the buyer to keep the land in production farmland for a minimum of 10 years (currently 5).

While we know anything can happen in the legislative process, this bill is one we can hang our hats on and will be so beneficial to our farm families now and in the future. We must impress upon our lawmakers how critical it is to do all we can to make farmland transition a priority for the state’s agriculture industry.

Speaking of farmland transition, KFB’s Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative is still moving forward in multiple ways. We appreciate all the support we have seen over the past months from all levels of government and from our commodity groups.

I talked to several of my colleagues during the AFBF meetings and they agree that an initiative such as this can mean a brighter future for farmers and the future of farm families, something everyone will benefit from.

We will continue our efforts in this season of advocacy with the same vigor as we will once spring planting begins. All I ask is to make your voices heard at all levels. Our farms and ag industry depend on it.   

Eddie Melton, President
Kentucky Farm Bureau