Inflation is front and center for agriculture as Washington lawmakers fight over ways to control it, but those higher costs could keep families away from enjoying traditions like state fairs.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says farm families are facing tough pocketbook issues at the Iowa state and county fairs this year.
“We are in a recession, and a lot of these families that normally are exhilarated by the thought of spending a week-and-a-half away from home with their livestock, with their projects, now are struggling because that cost away from home is going to impact their families,” said Sen. Ernst.
It is not just away from home.
“The added cost of diesel fuel has hit our farmers really hard - A 300 percent cost increase in fertilizer. Many of these families that love to celebrate at the Iowa state fair are going to be struggling,” Sen. Ernst said.
Ernst claimed at the Senate GOP Leadership’s weekly press event that the Democrats’ new slimmed-down climate and healthcare bill will add job-killing tax hikes and spike inflation. Not so, argues Senate Democratic Leader, Chuck Schumer.
“Leading experts confirm the Inflation Reduction Act lives up to its name. The committee for a responsible federal budget, by no means a liberal group, affirmed that “almost every one of this bill’s policies, in and of itself, will fight inflation. On the net, the entire package most certainly will,” said Schumer.
From its historic climate and energy efficiency spending to its push to lower prescription drug prices, Republicans cite other economists at the Penn Wharton School of Business and Congress’ joint committee on taxation that argued the bill Schumer hopes to bring up will add to inflation or have no effect.
The Senate is expected to take up the Inflation Reduction Act sometime next week. The Iowa State Fair runs from August 11th-21st.
Related:
What will the Inflation Reduction Act mean for rural America and ag
What impact is inflation having on rural America?
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