Farm Business


From Debt to Deliverance: Wade

Posted on: May 16th, 2023 by

Note: This is the final installment of a three-part blog series about ABLS clients and their debt resolution stories. In March and April, we shared the debt restructuring stories of retired and active Iowa farmers Jerry and Deb, and Paul and Linda, respectively. In this blog, meet a third Iowa farmer: Wade. Wade had his […]

Selling a farm: capital idea or capital gains tax?

Posted on: March 2nd, 2023 by

Note: This is the second of a two-part blog series on buying or selling a farm Why do you want to sell your farm? Why do you want to buy a farm? In January, we wrote that before you put your farm on the market or negotiate a farm purchase, you should ask yourself those […]

Unintended Consequences: The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022’s Farm Debt Relief Causes Farmers Massive Tax Headaches

Posted on: February 17th, 2023 by

For a deeper analysis into this topic, see a version of this article written for tax professionals and other interested parties here. On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. Section 22006 of the IRA provided $3.1 billion for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide relief […]

Unintended Consequences: The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022’s Farm Debt Relief Causes Farmers Massive Tax Headaches (Deep Dive)

Posted on: February 17th, 2023 by

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. Section 22006 of the IRA provided $3.1 billion for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide relief for distressed borrowers under certain Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct and guaranteed loans. On October 18, 2022, USDA provided nearly $800 million […]

Before buying or selling a farm, ask “Why?”

Posted on: January 24th, 2023 by

Note: This is part one of a two-part blog series on buying or selling a farm. For part two, “Selling a farm: capital idea or capital gains tax?” see here. You want to buy or sell a farm. Before you push a “For Sale” sign into the ground or negotiate with the owner, make sure […]

Don’t confuse money in the bank with profitability

Posted on: January 6th, 2023 by

You look at the December bank statement. It shows a checking account larger than a year ago. You’ve had a profitable year, right? Not necessarily. Just because you have money in the bank does not mean you made money. It may seem strange, but profitability and money in the bank are two different things, even […]

Waiting to Act Only Exacerbates Financial Problems

Posted on: December 1st, 2022 by

Farmer spouses who keep the operation’s books might not be spending long hours in the field or barn, but the time they devote to the financials can just as easily make or break the family business. The spouse manager must be proactive should they see expenses outpacing income. Debt can accumulate rapidly and could, if […]

Prices up, but some farmers in financial straits

Posted on: October 26th, 2022 by

Commodity prices are trending higher, yet many farmers are struggling to pay their bills. The reasons are varied but could spell disaster if producers don’t get a handle on their finances. So say Joe Peiffer, founder and shareholder of Ag & Business Legal Strategies, and Keith Starr, the firm’s chief financial strategist, as they discuss […]

Death and Taxes is How We Lose It: The Importance of Succession Planning for American Agriculture

Posted on: February 24th, 2022 by

The hit TV show “Yellowstone” has achieved popularity with agricultural and non-agricultural audiences alike. Along with dramatized glimpses of ranching life, it also provides nuggets of truth with real world application. In a recent episode, while facilitating the sale of a family farm where one sibling couldn’t afford to buy the other out to retain […]

Choice of Business Entity for Farmers

Posted on: February 24th, 2022 by

The choice of business entity for a farm is an important decision that can either protect farm owners and their families from the risks inherent in the farming enterprise or expose them to those risks. Farmers employ various forms of business entity, and the choice varies greatly between types of farms and their sizes. Many […]