STATE
Tennessee State Fair
In 2020, the Tennessee State Fair and Exposition Commission began the search for a new home of the State Fair. At the completion of their review, the Commission subsequently voted to recommend the Wilson County location as the future site for the State Fair.
One Health Initiative and the Link Between Human and Animal Disease
New funding was allocated in the budget for the One Health Initiative, a collaboration between multiple disciplines across federal and state government entities seeking to find solutions to the challenges that affect human, animal and environmental health.
Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land in Tennessee
A bill was introduced to limit foreign ownership of agricultural property in Tenn., prohibiting nonresident aliens, foreign businesses or foreign governments from purchasing or acquiring agricultural land while allowing those who already hold land to keep what they have.
Implications of the Greenbelt Acreage Cap
Farm Bureau policy supports increasing the acreage limitation to reflect increasing acreage ownership by farmers. Further conversations with local government representatives are needed as revenue sources for local governments is a point of contention.
Tennessee’s Agriculture Sales and Use Tax Exemption
Both the manufacturing (TCA 67-6-206) and agriculture (TCA 67-6-207) industries have sales-tax exemptions. Farmers use this section on input items which allow them to cultivate, produce, harvest, process, market and transport their crops.
Tennessee’s Attorney General Selection Process
Since 1870, the Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter is selected by the state Supreme Court. For many years, lawmakers have had several discussions about how or if to change the process which the Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter is selected.
FEDERAL
Federal Tax Policy
Many of the pass-through provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are temporary and failure to extend important pass-through provisions will result in a tax increase for farmers, leaving them without ways to deal with the cyclical and unpredictable nature of business.
Stepped Up Basis and Capital Gains Taxes
Stepping up basis when an individual who is a member of a family-owned farm dies is critical to the business surviving the loss of a loved one and a business partner. Repealing it would force many family-owned farms to liquidate assets to cover the tax burden.
Looking to the Next Farm Bill
Congress is currently having discussions about the next farm bill. Now is the time for Farm Bureau leaders to think and discuss about what changes are needed to the farm bill structure.
National Agriculture Statistics Service
The USDA’s NASS conducts surveys and prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of agriculture such as production & supplies of food & fiber, prices paid & received by farmers, farm labor & wages, farm finances, chemical use & changes in demographics of producers.
Cybersecurity
The USDA’s NASS conducts surveys and prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of agriculture such as production & supplies of food & fiber, prices paid & received by farmers, farm labor & wages, farm finances, chemical use & changes in demographics of producers.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Land Use Conversion to Solar Facilities
The concept of manmade climate change is driving business and industry to move away from conventional electrical energy sources to reduce carbon emissions. This solar energy requires an average of 8.1 acres of land per megawatt capacity of electrical generation.
Tennessee Nutrient Reduction Strategy
A nutrient reduction strategy for the state is inevitable given the nationwide focus on the Gulf of Mexico hypoxia. However, agriculture as a whole has very little data and research to more accurately determine just how much agriculture contributes to nutrient run-of.
Regenerative Agriculture
Over the past few years there have been announcements by many large commodity and food companies to transition inputs and purchases of farm commodities to regenerative agriculture sources.
Engaging in the Climate Discussion
The Biden administration is taking a whole of government approach to climate. The private sector has set goals and initiatives focused on the environment and climate. Farm Bureau has worked to ensure farmers’ voices are heard in the discussions surrounding climate.
Climate and Carbon
Environmental organizations and some scientists contend greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are the principal cause for an increase in average global temperatures. This paper is meant to focus on understanding the position.
Ag and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
EPA provides annual estimates of man-made greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by emissions source, as well as estimates of the amount of carbon trapped in forest and vegetation soil. It is important to highlight U.S. agriculture’s minimal contribution.
Ag Ecosystem Credit Markets
The demand for carbon offsets from agriculture has grown significantly in recent years, but the process is still confusing and cumbersome, which then limits farmer and forester participation.
Is Carbon a Commodity?
A challenge of agricultural ecosystem credit markets is quantifying the generated assets in a streamlined and cost-efficient manner. After this hurdle is overcome, the next question is how are these assets priced?
Farmer Considerations for Ag Ecosystem Credit Markets
As farmers consider Ag Ecosystem Credit Markets, this paper looks at considerations and the development of good business practices for agriculture ecosystem credit markets and assesses the markets’ long-term impacts.
