ABM News

Farm Transition and Estate Planning provides farm families with the tools and skills to move forward with developing their farm business transition and personal estate plans.

Improved profitability allowed the average Minnesota farm to make modest gains in working capital and net-worth growth during 2025.

Most farms use the cash accounting method, meaning income and expenses are recorded when they are actually received or paid. One tool available to cash-basis farmers is to defer the income from a sale into the following tax year.

As outdoor temperatures warm during late winter, spring, and early summer, the potential for grain storage problems increases, along with the need for grain monitoring and management. 

Increased federal premium subsidies have made higher levels of protection much more cost-effective. Take some time to ensure you understand how these tools can help protect your operation in 2026.

Minnesota’s Paid Leave program launched on January 1, 2026. Employers who have not performed Minnesota Paid Leave withholding since the beginning of the year should notify their tax professional or payroll administrator. 

While it’s a relief to see incomes trending upward from 2024, the structure of that income is a bit of a double-edged sword.

Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) is a Farm Bill safety net program and a widely used risk management tool for dairy farmers. Sign-up at your local FSA office opened on January 12 and will close on February 26, for 2026.

Minnesota’s Paid Leave program launched on January 1, 2026. Employers, including those in agricultural operations, must begin withholding premiums and reporting wages this year.

A new mill and a new oat variety address the potential for increased food-grade oat acreage.