By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist
A bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would give an economic boost to youth in agriculture.
If passed, the Student Agriculture Protection Act of 2019, or HR 1770, would create a tax bracket exemption on the first $5,000 of income earned by student involved in agriculture.
“This bill would give students an opportunity to put more of their earnings toward future projects or their education,” Whit Weems, Texas Farm Bureau director of Organization, said.
The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), encourages youth to seek career paths in agriculture by making it easier for them to fund future agricultural projects, Weems said.
By continually investing in agricultural projects, Weems said students are more likely to stay engaged with livestock, crops and agricultural equipment that further develops their knowledge and understanding of farmers, ranchers and agriculture as an industry.
The future of agriculture depends on young people actively seeking agricultural careers, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said.
“The long-term sustainability of agriculture depends on talented young people pursuing careers in farming and ranching, as well as related fields and food-chain professions,” Duvall said. “Student agricultural projects encourage interest in fields of study that will provide the next generation of farmers, ranchers, food scientists, agricultural engineers, agronomists, horticulturalists and soil scientists.”