Iowa farmers tell Ways and Means tax changes threaten multigenerational farms; panel backs biofuels credits

Joanne Riesen, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and a second‑generation farmer, told the House Ways and Means Committee that provisions in the 2017 tax law are central to keeping family farms viable and to facilitating intergenerational transfers. "If these tax provisions change, it will be catastrophic for us and so many others who need their land and equipment to keep in farm off, to keep the farm operational," Riesen said in her testimony.

Riesen and other farmers urged Congress to preserve stepped‑up basis, bonus depreciation and estate‑tax exemptions so heirs do not have to sell land or equipment to meet tax liabilities. She described a scenario in which the loss of current rules could force heirs to sell hundreds of acres or equipment, noting the high capital costs of replacement machinery.

Speakers also pressed for biofuels‑related tax incentives. Riesen and other members of the panel discussed tax credits identified as "45 Z" and "45 C" in testimony (tax credits tied to low‑carbon fuels and carbon capture in fuel production). Riesen said those credits could expand domestic markets for corn and ethanol and argued they would return multiple dollars of economic value for every dollar of credit investment.

Steve Soukup also described manufacturing investments and new products tied to the tax environment, and he said reinstating full expensing and R&D expensing would encourage further innovation. Committee members from the region emphasized that stronger domestic biofuels markets support farm incomes, main‑street businesses and local hospitals and schools that depend on agricultural economies. No committee votes were held at the hearing.