Iowa State University announced on Apr. 14 the development of a free training program aimed at increasing the number of tax professionals with expertise in agricultural income. The initiative is supported by $2.8 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and will offer nationwide training to help address the shortage of preparers familiar with farm-related tax issues.
The need for more specialized tax professionals is pressing, especially as rural communities face difficulties finding experts who understand agricultural income, according to Kristine Tidgren, director of Iowa State’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation (CALT). She said, “We want to lift the veil for tax preparers who have been hesitant to take on farm clients and say, ‘No, you can do this, and we’re going to make you confident that you can do this.’”
The program will begin with in-person pilot workshops after next year’s April 15 federal income tax deadline before launching an online version later in the fall. The curriculum will cover topics such as depreciation on livestock purchases, handling crop losses due to storms, and managing non-farmer returns with farm income. Michael Bootsma, a teaching professor in accounting involved in developing content for the new training program, said working with industry-specific experts helps farmers save money and reduce legal risks: “People are always interested in how the wealthy invest their money. Well, for one, they all have specialized tax practitioners helping them,” he said.
Tidgren explained that while agricultural taxation has unique aspects—such as managing variable revenue or differentiating between livestock held as inventory versus assets—the concepts are often extensions of general business taxation knowledge: “When it’s explained in a way that makes sense, somebody who is familiar with business taxation can pick it up pretty easily,” she said.
Bootsma noted that many farmland owners today are not traditional farmers; recent surveys show trusts own about 23% of Iowa farmland—a significant increase over two decades ago—making specialized guidance even more important.
The project leverages Iowa State’s experience through its National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee collaboration and its dedicated center focused on farm tax issues. Bootsma added his personal connection: “This is such a great way to benefit and create value for folks who don’t have the resources they’d like to have.”
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