A sluggish ag economy, job layoffs, higher cost of living. Insight from economists Chad Hart & Peter Orazem. Joining Radio IA's @okayhenderson are the Gazette's @ErinDMurphy and DMReg's @sgrubermiller Watch Sunday at Noon or online anytime

Economist Peter Orazem.

A sluggish ag economy, job layoffs, high cost of living. Insight from economists Chad Hart and Paul Orazem. Joining Radio IA's @okayhenderson are the Gazette's @ErinDMurphy and DMReg's @sgrubermiller Watch tonight at 10p or online anytime at

Economist Peter Orazem.

A sluggish ag economy, job layoffs, higher costs of living Economists Chad Hart and Paul Orazem give insight. Joining Radio IA's @okayhenderson are the Gazette's @ErinDMurphy and DMReg's @sgrubermiller We recorded early this week so watch online anytime at

Thanks for following along. The show will be online today. We are preempted on Friday night for our 4th of July coverage but we will be on Iowa PBS .1 on Sunday at 12:00 noon.

Orazem: You see some conversion of new properties in cities but it is difficult. Rents are high but most of the drop in rents has been on the coasts.

Orazem: Undocumented immigrants - U.S. is starved for labor. Rules for ag labor - most of the labor for raising livestock which is a year around business but the policy favors shorter time periods like the ones needed for harvesting vegetables.

Hart: Ag relies on immigrant labor. IA more meat processing but you see it on IA farms. Immigration and policy matters to Iowans. Difficult finding ag labor.

Orazem: IA has had a problem with attracting immigrants for many years because we don't have many large firms. H1B visas. We are at a disadvantage here in Iowa. Larger companies are more successful at getting those visas.

Orazem: Big problem for manufacturing is labor and not capitol. Durable and non-durable growth, Iowa is lagging. A lot of retrenchment in food production and meat. New companies try to take advantage of closed plants still faces low labor rate.

Orazem: Outside of ag in Iowa we are not as susceptible to tariff troubles. The drag on ag economy is where Iowa has seen a downturn overall.

Orazem: We have a comparative advantage to produce implements domestically. Tariffs in other countries restrict sales. 2018 tariffs have changed where we sell.

Hart: Ag sector is treading water waiting for tariffs to be settled, mostly abroad. Machinery makers are struggling and slowing down. Waiting for tariff questions to be settled.

Hart: Ag is just like the general economy. Crop was big last year and not helping prices. However, what goes down will go back up but we are waiting for the turn.

Hart: Big challenges for Ag economy - already struggling - do you increase the burden on agriculture. Ag land is holding its value but do farmers have assets available. Farmers asset rich and cash poor.

Orazem: Residential property taxed at lower rate than business. Not sure what the State gov will do but people vote and businesses do not.

Orazem: Property taxes are more painful for startups. Iowa does poorly on start ups. New companies have to pay property tax even if not operating. State limits local gov on amount of taxes.

Hart: Senate made some changes and now waiting for House to coalesce around some rules.

Hart: If bill passes - SNAP will have work requirements that are stronger than in the past and qualifications will increase making it hard for people to get benefits.