News

Perdue listens to Wisconsin Farmers as “Roots” tour begins

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue heard directly from farmers Thursday as his “Back To Our Roots” tour began.

It was a closed door meeting with producers, Perdue, and Wisconsin Ag Secretary Ben Brancel, who said, “We talked a little bit about our thoughts on agriculture here in the midwest and what’s going on right now, and then spent some time on farm bill topics.”

Purdue heard from growers including Kevin Malchine from Waterford Wisconsin.  After the meeting, Malchine told Brownfield, “From the vantage point of a crop producer… corn, soybeans, and wheat is what we have on our farm… was to keep in place the risk management program through insurance that we have currently through the farm program that we would like to see continue.”

Dave Daniels from Kenosha County says dairy issues came up a lot in the meeting with Perdue.  “We talked to the Secretary about the MPP program.  We need some fixes and (need to) bring some validity to it.”

 

And dairy security concerns, like what happened to Shane and Jennifer Sauer (Sour) of Waterloo when Grassland stopped taking their milk.  He told Brownfield, “When you go through an experience like that, it doesn’t go away, and you always wonder, and it makes it hard to function, and decision making is a huge challenge.”

Daniels says Perdue heard from dairy, beef, specialty crops, and organic growers during his first stop.

Secretary Perdue continues his tour Friday in Wausau and Elk Mound, Wisconsin before going to Garden City, Minnesota.