Area Rancher Credits Pfluger, New Tax Law With Easing Family Farm Burdens

SAN ANGELO, TX — A fifth-generation West Texas rancher credited provisions in the recently passed Working Families Tax Cuts Act — often referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill — with providing critical financial relief and long-term certainty to family farms and ranches struggling with drought, rising input costs and low commodity prices. 

Ross Copeland, who raises primarily Angus cattle and some sheep across Sterling, Coke, San Saba and Scurry counties, said the law helps agriculture in two key ways: through enhanced farm safety-net programs and permanent tax benefits. 

Copeland also serves as president of the Coke-Sterling County Farm Bureau.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill … really has impacted agriculture,” Copeland said. “It responds by providing, I think, $65.6 billion in ag support over 10 years.” 

Copeland said the bill includes strengthened crop insurance, ARC-PLC programs, commodity price support and livestock disaster assistance for drought, disease and wildfires. Many of those provisions are expected to reach farms by October, he said.

On the tax side, the law made permanent a $15 million per-person estate tax exemption, averting a scheduled drop to $7 million that Copeland said would have forced many family operations to sell land to pay taxes.

“That is the No. 1 most important thing that this bill does,” Copeland said. “Land rich but cash poor” heirs often cannot afford the bill, he added, especially as land values continue to rise. “If that generation doesn’t have the cash to pay that tax, they’re forced to sell out.”

The measure also permanently extended the 20% qualified business income deduction and restored 100% bonus depreciation, allowing immediate write-offs for equipment, machinery, barns, fences and other infrastructure. 

Copeland said fencing costs have roughly doubled since he started ranching — from $8,000-$10,000 per mile to $20,000 or more — and the new depreciation rules make such investments more feasible. He plans to trade in older ranch trucks for new ones once the provisions take full effect at the end of the year.

“Anytime you can avoid paying something in tax and keep that money … you can invest back into your operation,” he said.

Copeland noted that cattle prices remain strong, but many crop farmers face record-low prices and rising expenses for fuel, equipment and interest on operating loans. The tax cuts, he said, improve cash flow and allow producers to plan with greater confidence on planting decisions, succession and offsetting costs. 

Producers across rural West Texas are pleased with the changes, he reported.

“This is a bright spot,” Copeland said. “It gives the farmers and ranchers confidence in knowing and certainty.”

He praised U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, for listening to agricultural groups such as the Farm Bureau, Texas Cattle Raisers and sheep and goat raisers.

“He has done a great job,” Copeland said. “He knows agriculture. He lives it.”

While the law does not include everything the industry sought, Copeland called it “a huge step in the right direction.”

“I’m just grateful,” he said.