AEWR Hits Georgia Farmers and Death Tax Repeal Act
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**The last few months have seen numerous changes to the H-2A program including hundreds of pages of rule updates, survey results and wage changes.
The Georgia Farm Bureau reports, while these changes can negatively impact fruit and vegetable producers, the 14% increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate will have a dramatic impact, costing Georgia growers an estimated $120
million in additional wages.
A bill has been introduced to reverse the increase.
www.gfb.org/media-and-publications/news.cms/2023/1452/sens--ossoff--tillis-introduce-bill-to-reverse-aewr-increase
**Farmer sentiment weakened again in March as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell 8 points to a reading of 117.
Both the Index of Current Conditions and Index of Future Expectations declined 8 points in March leaving the Current Conditions Index at 126 and the Future Expectations Index at 113.
Weaker prices for key commodities including wheat, corn, and soybeans from mid-February through mid-March were a key factor behind this month's weaker sentiment reading.
www.agrimarketing.com/s/144771
**Some 41 Senators reintroduced legislation to permanently repeal the federal estate tax.
The “Death Tax Repeal Act” would end a tax that hits family-run farms, ranches, and businesses hard after the owner’s death.
South Dakota Republican John Thune says, family-owned farms and ranches often bear the brunt of this tax, which makes it difficult and costly to pass these businesses down to future generations.
