A tax policy solution to save Montana ranch land

Should ranches that have been taken out of production continue to be taxed as agricultural property? That’s a question the Montana Legislature will tackle this session in order to address the trend of non-residents buying up land and removing the cattle. It’s a problem that needs solved if Montana is to continue to have a thriving agricultural economy.

Maintaining reasonable property taxes on agriculture benefits all Montanans. Not only are farming and ranching two of the most important segments of our economy, they also define the cultural identity of Montana and provide immense conservation and aesthetic value.

Our property tax structure results in a kind of unspoken bargain — the state will tax ag property based on its production in exchange for all the benefits agriculture contributes to Montana.