Legislation Would Help Craft Beverage Makers

Legislation that would modernize the tax code and streamline regulations for producers of craft beverages will provide opportunities for rural entrepreneurship and expand domestic markets for crops, according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.

“New and expanding rural ag-based businesses like craft breweries, distilleries, wineries and cider-makers foster economic development and create much-needed jobs in rural America,” Duvall said in a letter of support to the sponsors of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017 (S. 236, H.R. 747).

He continued, “Wheat, barley, hops, corn, rice, rye, grapes, and other fruits are used to make a variety of alcoholic beverages by breweries, distilleries, wineries and cider-makers. In addition to rural economic development, additional markets for row crops, grapes and other fruits benefit farmers and growers by providing an additional market for their products.”

The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017 was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and in the House by Reps. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.).