As cattle producers, we don’t always agree on everything. We raise cattle in different landscapes, operate at different scales and face unique challenges depending on where we call home. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned through years in this industry, it’s that when ranchers set aside our differences and work together, real progress follows.
As we close out another year and look ahead to 2026, I feel a sense of cautious optimism. Not because the road ahead will be easy, but because I’ve seen what unity can accomplish when the agriculture industry speaks with one voice.
This past year provided a clear example of that. Recent tax reform included meaningful tax provisions that directly benefit producers and rural families.
Agriculture prevailed as the “death tax” exemption was increased to $15 million per individual or $30 million per couple, adjusted annually for inflation. This means if the value of your farm or ranch plus equipment, cattle and other assets are less than $15 million individually or $30 million as a couple, you will pay no death tax. This a huge victory for not only the ranching industry but all small businesses. The death tax has forced many farmers and ranchers to sell off land, equipment or cattle to pay the high tax. This increased threshold is a huge victory for protecting more family farms and ranches than ever before. In addition to the death tax, we saw significant and permanent provisions put into place for bonus depreciation, the small business tax deduction, and Section 179, which allows small businesses to deduct the cost of equipment.
Those victories didn’t happen by accident but were the result of sustained collaboration among agricultural organizations, lawmakers and grassroots producers who stayed engaged and focused on shared goals. It was a reminder that unity, even on technical policy issues, can lead to practical, meaningful results for producers.
Looking ahead, that same cooperative approach will be essential as we confront one of the most persistent challenges facing agriculture today: labor. The agricultural labor shortage affects nearly every segment of our industry. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a cow-calf producer, a feeder or part of an allied business, finding and retaining a dependable workforce has become increasingly difficult. Addressing this challenge won’t come from one idea, one policy change or one organization acting alone. It will take open dialogue, shared experiences and a willingness to collaborate across sectors.
That belief is what’s driving the upcoming Agricultural Labor Summit in Billings, MT, this January. Hosted by the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) in partnership with other agricultural organizations, the summit is designed to bring stakeholders together for focused conversations about workforce issues impacting our industry. The goal is to create space for producers and partners to explore practical paths forward. That could mean a variety of things including strengthening domestic labor pipelines, improving access to non-immigrant labor programs like H-2A or identifying new approaches altogether.
This kind of collaboration is not new to agriculture, but it is increasingly important. Complex issues like workforce availability, domestic labor pipelines and access to non-immigrant labor programs require coordination, shared knowledge and a willingness to listen. No one organization has all the answers, but together, we can identify workable paths forward.
That mindset is also reflected in MSGA’s Producer Profitability Initiative, which is a grassroots effort led by cattle producers who believe the future of our industry depends on unity, adaptability and long-term sustainability. It’s an acknowledgment that no matter our age, operation size or management style, our success is tied together.
As we look toward 2026, I hope we continue choosing cooperation over division. There will always be tough conversations in agriculture, but there are also principles nearly all of us agree on: the importance of keeping ag land in production, the need to remain profitable, the desire to pass our operations on to the next generation and the responsibility we share to produce a safe, reliable food supply. Progress happens when we remember that our collective voice is stronger than any single one. United, we’ve already seen what’s possible. Now it’s on us to keep building from there.
For those interested in learning more about the Agricultural Labor Summit and the conversations shaping the future of our workforce, visit mtbeef.org. — Lesley Robinson, Montana cattle producer and MSGA president
