Taxes shouldn’t decide the future of your farm. We sit down with Jody Robinson, VP of Tax Planning at Mariner Wealth Advisors, to unpack how the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” changes the game for landowners and the families who depend on them. From estate tax thresholds to capital gains strategies, we break down what actually matters when the goal is to keep acres in the family and options open.

We start with the bigger picture: how a higher, now “permanent,” federal estate tax exemption buys time and clarity for long-range planning, and why state-level rules can still spring surprises. Jody explains the step-up in basis in plain English and shows how it erases decades of appreciation for heirs, often preventing forced sales at the worst possible time. Then we pivot to active moves: 1031 exchanges to keep gains deferred and capital working, Qualified Opportunity Zones for an alternate deferral path, and portfolio tactics like tax-loss harvesting to soften the blow when sales are necessary.

Operators get a timely walkthrough of bonus depreciation’s return to 100% for qualifying assets such as equipment, irrigation, and grain bins. The upside is immediate cash flow relief; the catch is potential depreciation recapture when you sell. Jody lays out how to time purchases, align hold periods, and avoid trading short-term relief for a bigger tax bill later. We also dive into titling choices—individual, joint, trust, or entity—and how they affect control, transfer, and taxes. Finally, we tackle gifting versus inheriting: when lifetime gifts support continuity for an on-farm heir, and when waiting for inheritance preserves a step-up in basis for those likely to sell.

If you want a practical roadmap—clear steps, real trade-offs, and fewer landmines—this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with someone planning a transition, and leave a review with your top tax question so we can cover it next.

Follow at www.americalandauctioneer.com and on Instagram & Facebook
Contact the team at Pifer's

What does it really take to keep a small town alive—and help it grow? We sit down with developer and community leader Nathan Burseth to unpack how Colfax, North Dakota, paired housing with heart to attract families, remote workers, and retirees while strengthening its school and tax base. From the first 15 lots to multiple phases in Colfax Meadows, to the shop-friendly Trackside, to the barn dominium-focused Reserve, Nathan shows how choice, covenants, and city services create real momentum without losing the rural feel people love.

We dig into the practical playbook: municipal water and sewer on large lots, creative architecture with many builders, and fiber internet that lets Minneapolis or Chicago professionals work from the prairie. Nathan explains how a diversion settlement funded county-wide housing initiatives, reducing risk for builders and banks, and why home rehabilitation is a powerful lever for affordability and neighborhood renewal. Each new household matters; just a few students can change a district’s budget, keeping class sizes small and opportunities wide.

Community culture ties it together. The Richland 44 Foundation’s scholarships—up to $10,000 per graduate—plus a new events venue keep resources flowing to students and teachers, from dual-credit support to classroom tech. Add pheasants at dusk, kids biking to the pool, and a 20-minute interstate drive to Fargo’s jobs and concerts, and you have a compelling mix of small-town life with big-city access. If you care about the future of rural America—or you’re searching for a home where values and opportunity align—this conversation brings a blueprint you can use. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s “small-town curious,” and leave a review with the one idea your community should try next.

Follow at www.americalandauctioneer.com and on Instagram & Facebook
Contact the team at Pifer's

Land headlines may say “wild,” but the on-the-ground story is sharper: focused buyers, resilient prices on the right tracts, and real opportunity in mixed-use and grassland parcels. We unpack the three pillars driving value—farm profitability, interest rates, and safety nets—then dig into why “land is local” still explains so much of what clears at auction. Attendance may be thinner than last year, yet prime quarters near existing operations continue to command strength, especially where soils, access, and water line up.

We also trace the season’s format shift. Lakota’s live room popped, Devils Lake went heavy online, and harvest convenience kept producers bidding from the cab. You’ll hear when we choose live high-bidder’s choice versus timed online, how buyer profiles influence results, and why clear parceling, fencing status, water sources, and drone footage help sellers earn trust and bidders move fast. On the ground, grassland remains a bright spot as livestock values hold firm across western North Dakota and eastern Montana—where contiguous pasture, reliable water, strong fences, and maintained roads are the real currency.

Then we map the fall slate: Jamestown’s multi-parcel cropland, Emmons County’s contiguous grass, western ND pheasant-country tracts, and a standout 1,763-acre Cass County offering stretching Castleton to Wheatland. High PI soils and development shadow along Highways 10 and 18 create long-hold optionality, while additional parcels sit near the ethanol plant and along the interstate for future flexibility. Add a 2,500-acre Slope–Bowman package with river-bottom trees on Little Beaver Creek, and recreational and grazing value intersect in rare ways.

Looking to engage, learn, or bid? Join our Midwest Farm Land Seminar on October 14 at 5:30 PM in Bismarck, browse aerials and soils at Pifers.com, and subscribe for weekly updates. If this deep dive helps you plan your next move, share it with a neighbor and leave a review—what opportunity are you scouting next?

Follow at www.americalandauctioneer.com and on Instagram & Facebook
Contact the team at Pifer's