On March 27, the White House marked National Agriculture Week by bringing together leaders from across the country to celebrate the farmers, ranchers, and producers who power America’s economy. Forestry in the U.S. is a $435 billion-dollar annual impact, with forestry manufacturing accounting for roughly 4-5% of the U.S. manufacturing GDP. The Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) was proud to be among those in attendance, joining hundreds of industry leaders as President Donald Trump outlined his administration’s agriculture agenda alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and other key officials.
While much of the national conversation often centers on traditional agriculture, the message from this event was clear: forestry is a vital part of the equation, and it must remain front and center in federal policy discussions impacting rural America.
A Unified Focus on Rural Prosperity
The event highlighted the administration’s focus on strengthening working families through tax relief, regulatory reform, and pro-growth policies designed to support rural economies. Central to that conversation was the passage and implementation of the “Working Families Tax Cuts” included in the One Big Beautiful Bill. This legislation aimed at delivering meaningful financial relief to producers across the country.
These policies directly impact the ability of landowners to maintain, manage, and pass down working forests.
GFA’s participation ensured that forestry’s unique needs were represented alongside those of farmers and ranchers. Like other sectors of agriculture, forestry depends on long-term investments, stable policy frameworks, and the ability to transfer land across generations without undue financial burden.
Death Tax Relief: Protecting Working Forests
One of the most significant outcomes highlighted during the event was the expansion of the federal estate tax exemption, commonly referred to as the “Death Tax.” This has long been a top priority not only for agriculture groups nationwide, but also for forestry advocates working to protect family-owned timberland.
For forest landowners, estate taxes pose a unique challenge. Unlike many other businesses, forestry operates on decades-long investment cycles. When land is transferred from one generation to the next, families can face substantial tax liabilities that force difficult decisions, including selling land or harvesting timber prematurely to cover costs.
The expansion of the estate tax exemption represents real relief.
It helps ensure that family-owned forests can remain intact, productive, and sustainably managed. Just as cattle producers and row crop farmers benefit from these protections, forest landowners now have greater certainty that their land and legacy can be preserved for future generations.
Equally important, these tax savings create opportunities for reinvestment. Landowners can put capital back into their operations. Whether through reforestation, equipment upgrades, or improved land management practices, strengthening both the environmental and economic sustainability of working forests is critical to the longevity of these businesses.
Broader Policy Wins for Forestry
Beyond estate tax relief, the event also highlighted several broader policy priorities that intersect with forestry.
Discussions around regulatory reform and the need for a modernized farm bill signal an opportunity to better align federal programs with the realities of today’s rural economy, including the forestry sector. Programs that support conservation, disaster recovery, and market stability are critical for forest landowners facing challenges like wildfire risk, pests, and market volatility.
Energy policy was also a key theme. The administration’s focus on renewable fuels and expanded energy opportunities has important implications for forestry. While the latest EPA Renewable Fuels Standards paved the way for corn and soybean-based fuels, there was little advancement when it comes to biomass and wood-based energy solutions. As demand for renewable energy grows, GFA and our federal partners believe that forestry can play a key role in providing sustainable, domestically sourced materials that support both energy independence and forest health.
Additional tax provisions, such as Section 179 expensing, offer important tools for forestry businesses. These provisions allow operators to deduct the cost of equipment and infrastructure investments, helping loggers, haulers, and landowners modernize operations and remain competitive.
Engagement Matters
While the policies discussed at the White House represent meaningful progress, they also reinforce an important reality: engagement matters.
The forestry community cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. Continued advocacy is essential to ensure that these policies are implemented effectively—and that future legislation continues to reflect the needs of forest landowners and the broader supply chain.
GFA remains actively engaged with federal partners, lawmakers, and agency leaders to keep forestry at the forefront of these conversations. Whether it’s advancing tax policies that support generational land transfer, shaping regulatory frameworks, or ensuring forestry is included in energy and conservation discussions, GFA is committed to delivering results for its members.
Looking Ahead
National Agriculture Week was a moment of recognition, but it is also a call to action.
Donate to GFA’s ForestPAC, focused on cultivating relationships with legislators who support forestry while also connecting with urban and suburban legislators who may not know or understand how important forestry is in Georgia.
The progress made in areas like estate tax relief and rural-focused tax policy is encouraging, but there is more work to be done. From passing a modernized farm bill to ensuring fair and effective regulations, the path forward will require continued collaboration between industry leaders and policymakers.
For Georgia’s forestry community, the stakes are high.
Working forests provide jobs, support rural economies, and deliver environmental benefits that extend far beyond property lines. With the right policies in place, forestry will continue to thrive as a cornerstone of American agriculture.
GFA is proud to stand alongside our partners in agriculture—and to ensure that forestry’s voice is not only heard, but leads the conversation.
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