Cattlemen Urge Congress to Address Expired Tax Extenders Legislation

Nov 17, 2015

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association along with the Public Lands Council and 37 additional agriculture groups sent a letter to House and Senate leadership urging Congress to take up legislation addressing expired tax extenders. NCBA President Philip Ellis of Chugwater, Wyo., said it is critical to address expired tax provisions for long-term business planning.

“Farmers and ranchers like myself rely on a stable and predictable tax code in order to plan purchases, make investments, and grow their businesses,” said Ellis. “Each year producers make significant financial determinations, and Congress’ failure to act on permanent tax reform has placed greater reliance on extender legislation over the past few years.”

The letter specifically focuses on Section 179 and bonus depreciation, which allows producers to write off a greater part of capital expenditures in the year that purchases were made rather than depreciate them over time. This provides an incentive for farmers and ranchers to invest in their businesses and offers the benefit of reducing the record-keeping burden associated with depreciation.

Under the expired law, the maximum amount that a small business can immediately expense when purchasing business assets is $25,000, adjusted for inflation, with the rest to be depreciated over time. The groups are encouraging Congress to restore the maximum amount of expensing under Section 179 to $500,000, as it was set in 2014. -

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Video: FLEECED! Sheep Shearer Hands Over Clippers!

It's sheep shearing day at Ewetopia Farms! ?? Our Dorset lambs and ewes are getting fleeced — and for the first time, our shearer hands over his clippers to a beginner. We finish shearing the last of our adult ewes and this year’s Dorset ewe lambs.

From moving the sheep between barns, loading them into chutes, and watching the wool come off, this is always one of the most satisfying days on the farm. But this video has a twist — we welcomed a new helper, Gian, who’s not only lending a hand but also learning how to shear! With guidance from our experienced shearer, he got a crash course in sheep shearing and even tried his hand at shearing a couple of lambs himself.

You’ll see firsthand how both teacher and student handled this unique challenge. Shearing is more than just removing wool — it’s about sheep health, comfort, and giving us a closer look at the flock. It’s always amazing to see the transformation from woolly sheep to freshly shorn ewes and lambs.