DUNKLIN COUNTY, Mo. – Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) joined members of the Missouri Rice Council for a Farmers Town Hall in Dunklin County this week, where he discussed the positive impact of the Working Families Tax Cuts, which Congressman Smith authored and championed to passage, on Missouri’s rice industry and fielded questions from farmers concerned about today’s agriculture economy.

Congressman Smith said, “It’s always good to sit down with our rice farmers and hear directly from them about what they’re facing — whether it be export issues, high input costs, or just the day-to-day challenges of running a farm in today’s environment. When you think of the Bootheel, rice farmers are one of the first groups that come to mind, and these families deserve a seat at the table when decisions are made and legislation is written. That’s exactly why I fought so hard to include provisions that benefited them in the Working Families Tax Cuts such as the first increase in reference prices in nearly 20 years. This legislation also made both the small business deduction and 100 percent bonus depreciation permanent, giving family-owned farms long-term certainty, which they need to reinvest, expand, and grow.

“I greatly enjoyed our conversation about their top priorities and concerns, and I will continue to fight for their interests when I return to Washington.”

During the discussion, Congressman Smith answered questions regarding seed prices, bridge payments, and trade enforcement, including an ongoing Section 301 investigation into unfair foreign trade practices affecting U.S. rice exports. Additionally, farmers asked about consolidation in the global fertilizer market, an issue Congressman Smith has raised directly with the Trump Administration after leading a congressional delegation to Morocco earlier this year.

Congressman Smith also highlighted wins for rice farmers in the Working Families Tax Cuts, like the increase in the reference price for rice by 20 percent beginning with crop year 2025. Ninety-eight percent of farms are organized as LLCs, making the bill’s permanent 199A small business deduction and 100 percent immediate expensing especially valuable for rice operations looking to reinvest in their equipment and land.