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WI Farm Bureau debates federal, state policy Monday

Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s President says priority number one is getting a farm bill.

Brad Olson says, “It’s important not just to Wisconsin farmers, not just to our members, but farmers across the nation. This has to get done.”

Olson tells Brownfield farmers are the life blood of America and they need the protections and certainty a farm bill brings.

Director of Government Relations Jason Mugnaini tells Brownfield the lack of a farm bill is a real concern for Wisconsin. “We’re sitting here on December 9th waiting for a farm bill or something to have happen so that we avoid the dairy cliff, I mean, this reverts us back to permanent law. We are very concerned. It affects no state more than the state of Wisconsin and our dairy industry. We need Congress to act very quickly.

Mugnaini says the dairy cliff would cost taxpayers billions and force consumer milk prices well over 20-dollars per gallon, destroying the industry.

State policy initiatives are being decided Monday, and Olson tells Brownfield he expects lively debate about preserving ag land. “Losing quality farmland and all farmland to solar and wind is becoming a bigger and bigger issue all the time. When those acres, they don’t come back into production again. They’re gone.”

Mugnaini says the topic of whether to support raw, unpasteurized milk sales is likely. “I think that there will be a discussion about it on the floor. I think that avian influenza has certainly brought that conversation back up.”

Wisconsin’s delegates will be considering resolutions including milk pricing transparency, a potential end to land acquisition under the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Plan, creation of a task force to research tail-docking dairy animals, and establishment of a statewide committee to provide recommendations in the event of a livestock disease outbreak.

The 105th Wisconsin Farm Bureau Annual Meeting will wrap up in Wisconsin Dells Monday afternoon after the delegate session and board reorganization meetings.

Audio: Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Brad Olson and Governmental Relations Director Jason Mugnaini discuss policy issues before the Annual Meeting Delegate Session with Brownfield’s Larry Lee