Pro-Growth Economic Policies for Rural America
ARA knows that policies promoting free trade of ag products, equipment, & crop input materials (pesticides, fertilizers, seeds) will create opportunities for U.S. agribusinesses & farmers.
Federal tax policies can advance economic growth & repeal tax provisions that impose undue burdens while continued investment in biofuel research and the development of low-carbon emission technologies enable rural communities to grow economically. ARA sees a growing need for more specialized works in agribusinesses and rural communities to ensure they can thrive.
ARA's Position
- Work with industry coalitions to continue promoting the development & use of all liquid fuels (oil, gas, biofuels, etc.) to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources of energy & related technologies
- Oppose proposed cuts to the Renewable Fuel Standards to avoid devastating impact on ag, rural economies, and stifled investment in ethanol plants throughout the U.S.
- Maintain Stepped-Up Basis, which is critical for family-owned farms to reduce estate tax burdens, prevent forced sales, & support generational continuity
- Support Estate Tax Relief to preserve current enhanced exemption levels protecting family farms from burdensome taxes that threaten business survival
- Back Permanent Lower Individual Tax Rates, which are essential for pass-through agribusinesses to retain income for reinvestment & operations
- Make permanent the 199A Deduction to reinvest in farms & level competition with larger agribusinesses while boosting rural economies
- Protect Section 179 Expensing to invest in machinery & technology by allowing immediate expensing of qualifying capital investments
- Restore 100% Bonus Depreciation to promote growth & efficiency through immediate tax benefits for essential equipment & infrastructure investment
- Maintain 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges for property reinvestment flexibility while supporting adaptation to market & environmental changes.
- Preserve 20% Capital Gains Rate to spur reinvestment & financial viability in this capital-intensive industry
- Reform H-2A program to expand eligible job categories, streamline applications, enable year-round employment, increase worker portability, modernize wage requirements, improve recruitment, & increase flexibility in emergencies
- Support federal energy policies to increase domestic natural gas production, reduce U.S. manufacturing costs for crop input materials & promote renewable fuel development & use
- Oppose internal combustion engine bans, restrictions & electric vehicle mandates
- Advocate to add phosphate & potash to the U.S. Department of Interior’s critical minerals list
Each year, ARA membership decides a new set of policy issues the association will focus on with elected officials and key regulatory agencies in Washington, D.C. The established set of policy issues typically drive discussions during the annual ARA Legislative Fly-In. View the list of main policy priorities.
ARA-Funded Biofuel Research
ARA, as a member of the Transportation Fairness Alliance, released a study that analyzes the impacts of increased electric vehicle penetration on U.S. biofuels, agriculture and the economy. Proposals to ban internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 and 2050 served as the economic models for the study, along with a base case provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook.
The study found that overall, U.S. net farm income would decrease by up to $27 billion due to a proposed ban on gas cars.
DC Help Desk
ARA's DC Help Desk member service is a direct line to ag public policy experts. Send regulatory and legislative questions to the DC Help Desk for support. ARA members may also use this service to request help when scheduling a facility tour with their elected official in Congress.