Kagen Delivers For Wisconsin Farm Families
Kagen Speaks at the Family Dairies USA Annual Meeting
APPLETON, WI — Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. voiced his strong support this morning for Wisconsin dairy farmers at the annual meeting of Family Dairies USA. Kagen, the only Wisconsin member of the House Agriculture Committee, was in town this weekend following intense discussions in Washington regarding the 2007 Farm Bill.
“Wisconsin farm families asked me to deliver a Farm Bill that provides an effective safety net when necessary, and one that guarantees balanced trade with our neighbors,” Kagen commented. “We have been working in a bipartisan manner to accomplish these goals, but unfortunately, President Bush said he will veto both our House and the Senate version.”
“We need a President who will think things all the way through, one we can work with, someone who recognizes a good deal when he sees it.”
Congressman Kagen is an active voice for Wisconsin and has been a champion for Wisconsin dairy producers. Kagen secured funding for a number of programs to improve human health and agricultural businesses, including a childhood obesity program, allowance of interstate meat sales for Wisconsin producers, and programs to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables in our schools, energy independence on our farms and grow local - buy local initiatives.
“It has been an honor to work with the entire Wisconsin delegation, especially Senator Kohl and Chairman Obey, as we improved the health and ongoing success of the Dairy State,” Kagen concluded.
Dr. Kagen also has been working to bring transparency to all forward contracts in dairy to allow producers an opportunity to know exactly what the fair price of their products is on the open markets.
Kagen is engaged in pushing for the strongest possible support for the MILC program. The Senate’s Farm Bill restores the payment rate to 45% and ups the limit from 2.4 million pounds per year to something closer to 4 million.
Family Dairies USA is a grass-roots, non partisan, regional dairy co-op organization dedicated to bring fairness and equity to its family farm members in dairy policy matters and to provide excellence in dairy marketing services at reasonable prices.
