2022
Kansas Prescribed Burning – Rules and Regulations (2022-001 | MF3601 - August 2022) (with Carol Baldwin)
This publication allows persons engaged in prescribed burning activities to accurately assess the risks of prescribed burning, and provides attorneys with the necessary information to properly advise clients..
2018
Iowa Tax Reform Guidance: Individual Itemized Deductions for Tax Year 2018 (2018-002 | revised December 17, 2018)
Provides a non-comprehensive analysis of itemized deductions available under Iowa Law; written by the Iowa Department of Revenue and originally posted on their website at tax.iowa.gov/iowa-tax-reform.
Extended Livestock Replacement Period Applies in Areas of Extended Drought – IRS Updated Drought Areas 2018 (2018-001 | October 1, 2018)
List of counties in the U.S. for which the 12-month period ending August 31, 2018, was not a drought-free year.
2017
Extended Livestock Replacement Period Applies in Areas of Extended Drought – IRS Updated Drought Areas 2017 (2017-006 | October 2, 2017)
List of counties in the U.S. for which the 12-month period ending August 31, 2017, was not a drought-free year.
IRS Issues Guidance on Discharging Estate Tax Liens (2017-005 | April 27, 2017)
Employing Children in the Family Farming Business (2017-004 | March 27, 2017)
The Small Partnership Exception (2017-003 | April 17, 2017)
Discusses an exception from the penalty for failing to file a partnership return and the 1982 Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act audit procedures that could apply for many small business partnerships and farming operations.
Kansas Agricultural Lease Law (2017-002 | February 8, 2017; updated June 12, 2017)
Legal issues concerning agricultural leases can be broken down into property law issues and contract law issues.
Top Ten Agricultural Law and Tax Developments of 2016 (2017-001 | January 1, 2017)
2016
The Tax Rules Surrounding the Donation of a Permanent Conservation Easement (2016-019 | November 30, 2016)
Highlights factors to consider when creating a conservation easement that qualifies for federal tax benefits. The IRS Conservation Easement Audit Techniques Guide details how the IRS instructs its auditors that are examining returns that claim a deduction for the donation of a permanent conservation easement.
Summary of Tax Rates, Tables & Often Used Items (2016-018 | November 14, 2016)
Document provides many of the useful tax tables and other information critical for preparing 2016 tax returns.
Inflation-Adjusted Amounts for 2017 (2016-017 | November 8, 2016)
Tables showing 2017 inflation-adjusted amounts from the IRS for numerous tax provisions
Estate, Gift, and Generation-skipping Transfer Taxes: Restrictions on Liquidation of an Interest (2016-016 | November 2, 2016)
Comments related to August 2016 proposed Internal Revenue Code section 2704 regulations regarding transfer of family-owned entities.
Iowa Capital Gain Deduction (2016-015 | October 14, 2016; updated November 7, 2016)
The Iowa Department of Revenue has provided capital gain deduction flowcharts and checklists to assist in determining eligibility for the deduction, and has released the updated IA 100 Forms for 2016.
Common Estate Planning Mistakes of Farmers and Ranchers (and others) (2016-014 | October 3, 2016)
Frequently encountered problem areas in estate planning for farmers and ranchers.
Extended Livestock Replacement Period Applies in Areas of Extended Drought – IRS Updated Drought Areas (2016-013 | October 3, 2016)
List of counties in the U.S. for which the 12-month period ending August 31, 2016, was not a drought-free year.
Proposed Regulations Issued That Would Impact Valuation Discounting (2016-012 | August 4, 2016)
Over the past few decades, valuation discounting through the use of family-owned business entities has become a popular estate and gift tax planning technique.
Donation of Food Inventory (Christopher W. Hesse, guest contributor) (2016-011 | July 6, 2016)
Charitable contributions of food are provided special rules in the Internal Revenue Code. A recent change in the law makes it easier for farmers to claim charitable deductions for food products donated to charity.
Tax Return Due Dates: Status of States’ Conformity (2016-010 | July 1, 2016)
Three AICPA charts showing due dates for C corporation, various entity, and partnership tax returns.
Agricultural Financing Issues - Distinguishing Between a Capital Lease and an Operating Lease (2016-009 | June 20, 2016)
Understanding the differences between these two types of leases and rules surrounding "buyer in the ordinary course" is vital to avoid unexpected negative consequences during an economic downturn.
U.S. Department of Labor Sues Cactus Feeders, Inc. for Millions Over ESOP Plan: What's the Beef? (2016-008 | April 4, 2016)
DOL suit against Cactus Feeders illustrates that there may be better ways for many agriculture businesses to accomplish estate and business transition goals.
New Rules Require Inherited/Transferred Property Basis Returns (2016-007 | March 26, 2016)
Proposed basis information reporting rules complicate administration of many decedents' estates.
Top Ten Agricultural Law and Tax Developments of 2015 (2016-006 | March 13, 2016)
A rundown of the "top ten" legal issues impacting agriculture in 2015.
Iowa and I.R.C. §179 Coupling (2016-005 | March 13, 2016)
Recent federal tax legislation has been enacted late in the year as "Christmas tree" of "extender provisions." States are left to determine whether they will "couple" with the federal provisions, either in part or in whole. The lack of coupling can have significant impacts.
Kansas Fence Law (2016-004 | March 13, 2016)
Kansas fence law is quite detailed on numerous issues involving fences and livestock. This article covers the details that will lead to good fences making good neighbors.
New Regulations Will Impact Animal Antibiotic Use and the Role of Veterinarians (2016-003 | March 11, 2016)
New regulations taking effect in 2017 will alter the role of veterinarians and antibiotic use in animals.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Issues Final Produce Safety Rule (2016-002 | March 11, 2016)
New federal food safety regulations in 2018 will impact growers and handlers of fresh produce.
Legal Issues for Landowners to Consider in Negotiating Wind Energy Easements (2016-001 | March 11, 2016)
Before entering into a wind energy agreement a landowner should have the agreement carefully evaluated to determine if the financial benefits of the agreement truly outweigh the associated risk.