MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
With President Trump’s signature, the wide-ranging reconciliation package—referred to by some as the “Big Beautiful Bill”—has officially become law, delivering long-overdue relief for Kansas farmers and rural communities.
While much of the public attention focused on other provisions, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, highlighted how the law incorporates key elements of the long-delayed Farm Bill—provisions that are vital to the state’s agricultural backbone.
“This legislation includes the bulk of what’s traditionally known as Title One of the Farm Bill—the safety net that helps farmers keep going when market conditions make it nearly impossible to turn a profit,” Moran said in a recent interview. “This is something they can take to their bankers to secure financing and get operations moving for the new year.”
It has been seven years since the last Farm Bill was passed in 2018. In the interim, Kansas farmers have faced rising input costs for fuel, fertilizer, labor, and interest, while commodity prices have remained low. Moran said the resulting economic pressure has left many producers operating at a loss.
“The agricultural sectors in Kansas are getting squeezed,” Moran said. “This new law offers stability at a time when it's desperately needed.”
Moran also noted recent discussions with farm advocacy groups—including representatives from the soybean, sorghum, corn, and grain industries—who visited Capitol Hill to stress the urgency of relief. “Even if you're not a farmer, communities across Kansas depend on agriculture. Towns like Sylvia or Larned are deeply tied to whether or not local farmers are successful,” he said.
Alongside the new law, farmers are also benefiting from emergency disaster assistance passed by Congress last December. That funding is now available through local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices and includes support for both weather-related losses and broader economic hardships.
“While recent rains have eased drought conditions in much of the state, the long-term damage remains,” Moran said. “Programs like this are making a real difference on the ground right now.”
The legislation also marks progress in a longstanding policy goal for Moran—permanently repealing the federal estate tax, commonly referred to as the “death tax,” for family farms and small businesses.
“Too many families have been forced to sell land or assets just to pay taxes after the death of a loved one,” Moran said. “These are businesses that are asset-rich but not necessarily income-rich. The new law helps ensure family operations can continue into the next generation without being penalized.”
Moran called the new law “a lifeline for Kansas,” and said its impact will be felt not just in the fields, but across every small town and rural community that depends on a strong and stable farm economy.
“Whether you live in Hutchinson or a town of a few hundred people, if agriculture suffers, the entire community feels it,” he said. “This law brings much-needed security to our farmers—and by extension, to all of Kansas.”