Farm Bill Year Lends Momentum to Business Tax Policy Push

All eyes are on agriculture this year with the current farm bill set to expire in September—and lawmakers want to use that momentum to get several tax policies across the finish line.

Lawmakers have floated measures like reviving full bonus depreciation, which allowed farmers—and companies—to immediately expense capital expenditures, or a research and development tax deduction that expired last year, as possible inclusions in the package the agriculture committees will write this year. In a divided Congress, the legislation is seen as one of the only vehicles for tax-related items to hitch a ride.

Getting any tax provisions ...