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Farmers say taxes, workforce, and more are top concerns

U.S. Senator Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, met with his ag advisory council recently to hear farmer concerns and priorities.

Central Indiana farmer Phil Ramsey says potential changes to tax policy are top of mind.

“The big one that really hits farmers and all small businesses is the possible taking away of the stepped-up basis and lowering exemptions on estates,” he says.

Ramsey says the senator told farmers that those changes likely won’t get much traction.

“He believes that it will take some work to keep it there, but he thinks it’s pretty much a non-starter on that part of it,” he says.

Northwestern Indiana farmer Kendell Culp tells Brownfield labor is also a concern.

“Our whole country is facing a major workforce crisis right now,” he says. “…whether it’s planting your crops, harvesting, or the processing and packaging, we have to have an immigration policy that allows for a workforce to come in and help the American producers get those processes taken care of and get that work done.”

He says the farm bill is also top of mind.

And, Ramsey says farmers are closely watching any revision to the definition of waters of the U.S.

“We’re the ones working every day taking care of this land and water and I think they need to have more confidence in what the American farmer can do,” he says.

Braun met with his ag advisory council in Shelbyville on Monday.