by Matthew Holloway | Mar 27, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Rep. Juan Ciscomani’s (R-AZ06) support for federal tax and agriculture policy measures are being applauded as Congress continues work on a new Farm Bill and debates the future of expiring tax provisions.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) said Ciscomani backed efforts to double the federal estate tax exemption—commonly referred to by Republicans as the “death tax”—and supported legislation that includes approximately $66 billion in funding for farm safety net programs.
The measures are aimed at helping family farms remain financially viable and allow operations to be passed down to future generations.
“Family farmers are the backbone of this country, and Representative Juan Ciscomani has delivered real results to protect their livelihoods and their legacy,” NRCC spokesperson Ben Petersen said. “While others talk, Representative Ciscomani is taking action to support Arizona’s farmers and producers.”
The statement also criticized Democratic policies, alleging they negatively impact farmers and agricultural producers.
In a related post to X celebrating National Agriculture Day on March 24, Ciscomani said, “Today, we celebrate the incredible contributions of hardworking Arizonans who rise before the sun and work tirelessly to feed America. Your dedication keeps our local communities strong. Thank you for all that you do, today and every day!”
Farm safety net programs, typically addressed through federal Farm Bill legislation, include commodity support, crop insurance, and disaster assistance for agricultural producers.
Federal estate tax policy and agricultural funding have been ongoing points of debate in Congress, particularly as many farm-facing provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expired at the end of 2025 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture .
Ciscomani, who represents Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, has previously supported legislation related to tax relief and agricultural policy and has highlighted support for farmers and ranchers as part of his legislative priorities.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Dec 18, 2022 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
The Phoenix City Council approved $1.5 million to fund climate-change friendly urban farming, with up to 60 percent of grant money exclusively for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The grant term lasts up to five years.
The Biden administration prompted this program; they will fund it entirely, as part of their greater goal of equity. The city council revealed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) selected Phoenix as a pilot location for this type of program.
In addition to creating jobs and innovating farming practices in an urban setting, the city will require farmers to “advance equity” in the food system, mitigate production and distribution-induced climate change, and adopt or expand upon sustainable food production or aggregation.
The deadline for the grant proposal passed earlier this month, Dec. 5. The city will announce grant recipients this coming spring.
In all, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) may invest up to $43 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into urban, underserved nonprofit or private farmers. Those classified as “underserved” include beginners, the socially disadvantaged, those with limited resources, and military veterans. The USDA will target areas where FSA hasn’t been present before to implement this funding, or Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture (RSA) grants.
The $43 million is the first portion of $75 million to “support a fairer food system” while expanding nutritional food accessibility and strengthening the crippled supply chain.
The FSA focus on urban farming expanded with the 2018 Farm Bill, which established the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP). Over the past two years, the Biden administration’s USDA has allocated hundreds of millions in funding to urban, minority-focused initiatives.
The USDA has a county office committee devoted to urban agriculture in Phoenix, as well as in 16 other cities: Atlanta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; St. Louis, Missouri; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Cleveland, Ohio; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; Richmond, Virginia; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Los Angeles, California; and Oakland, California.
These FSA committees recently held their elections. The deadline for ballots was the same day as the deadline for Phoenix’s grant proposal. A total of 506 people voted in the last FSA committee election in 2019.
The newly elected county committee members take office on Jan. 1.
President Joe Biden appointed former Democratic congressional candidate Ginger Sykes Torres to serve as the State Executive Director for FSA Arizona at the beginning of this month. Sykes Torres formerly served as chair of Phoenix’s Urban Heat Island Tree and Shade Subcommittee
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
