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House lends hand to family
farmers
Measure to exempt replacement parts for farming
equipment clears House
Tightening margins on crops and
livestock is making it more and more difficult for family farmers to
make ends meet.
In an effort to further support family farmers, today state lawmakers
passed a measure to exempt replacement parts for farm machinery from
sales tax.
“Stretching a buck has always been a way of life our state’s farmers,”
said Rep. Bill Grant, D-Walla Walla. “We’ve got farmers who are going
broke. This proposal lends a hand to family farmers who are already
struggling to compete in the global market place.”
"Agriculture remains our state's most important industry and is vital to
southeastern Washington's economic vitality," said
Rep. Maureen Walsh,
R-Walla Walla. "Our farmers face unique challenges today with one being
that farm prices are not keeping pace with increased farming costs.
That's why this tax relief is so important."
House Bill 2457 exempts replacement parts for farm machinery and
equipment from the sales and use tax. The legislation is supported by
the Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Association of Wheat Growers and
other agricultural advocacy groups.
The proposal received firm bi-partisan support and now awaits action in
the Washington State Senate.
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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