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Governor Doyle Outlines Priorities for Wisconsin Agriculture
‘Ag Leaders for Doyle’ Highlight Governor’s Commitment to Affordable Health Care, Renewable Fuels, and Growing Our Farm Economy
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today outlined his priorities for agriculture in Wisconsin, including upgrading Wisconsin’s cheese plants, protecting Wisconsin’s working lands, and making life more affordable for farm families.
“I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish for Wisconsin’s farmers over the last four years,” Governor Doyle said. “From health care affordability to livestock siting, to renewable fuels, we’ve upgraded and expanded Wisconsin’s agriculture industry and supported our farm families. Moving forward, we need to cement our position as the nation’s leading cheese producer, and continue to find new markets for our agricultural products.”
This plan builds on the Governor’s tremendous record of accomplishment over the past four years. From expanding BadgerCare Plus to include more farm families, to helping farmers upgrade and expand their operations, to saving farmers $23 million in property taxes, Governor Doyle has been a champion for Wisconsin’s farmers.
That is why more than 150 farm families have come together as “Ag Leaders for Doyle.” Farmers and leaders in Wisconsin’s agriculture industry recognize that they have a Governor who will work along side them to grow Wisconsin agriculture industry and support farm families.
For four years, Governor Doyle has supported Wisconsin’s farmers and their families:
Governor Doyle signed legislation to bring affordable health insurance and lower deductibles to farmers by creating health care co-ops, and signed into law health insurance income tax deductions that will lower the cost of health care for farmers.
Governor Doyle expanded the “use value” formula to cover forested wetlands on farmland so that it could continue to be kept in agricultural use – helping to preserve that land and save farmers millions in taxes.
Governor Doyle saved over 20,000 farmers from a $23 million income tax increase by vetoing the Legislature’s attempt to end the Farmland Preservation Program, which encourages farmers to keep land in agricultural production and encourages soil and water conservation.
Governor Doyle’s economic development plan, Grow Wisconsin, included a dairy modernization tax credit to help farmers cover expenses of modernizing or expanding a dairy farm.
Governor Doyle strengthened the state’s agricultural producers security program – a program that provides security financing to protect farmers in the event of a major default, at no risk to the taxpayers.
Governor Doyle expanded the CROP program – which provides farmers with the funds they need to buy essential supplies like feed, seed, and fertilizer to serve more farmers – by signing legislation that increases its loans from $30,000 to $100,000.
Governor Doyle signed the landmark Livestock Siting Rule, which establishes statewide standards for siting new or expanding livestock facilities. This legislation was hailed as the most important “right to farm” protection in a decade, and represented a successful process to find common ground between farmers, environmentalists, conservationists, and local communities seeking to end battles over siting new or expanding livestock operations.
And now Governor Doyle wants to take the next steps:
Preserve Wisconsin’s Leadership in Cheese Production
Governor Doyle has a strategy to preserve Wisconsin’s leadership in cheese production by helping cheese plants upgrade their facilities and train their workers, increasing the milk supply, protecting the federal Milk Income Loss Compact (MILC) program, and reducing energy and health care costs for cheese producers.
Protect Wisconsin’s Farmland
Governor Doyle will work to implement the recommendations of the Working Lands Committee to preserve farmland in Wisconsin including: creating Agriculture Enterprise Areas, targeted purchase of development rights, and increasing education and technical assistance to local governments and nonprofit organizations.
Lower Health Care Costs for Farmers
Governor Doyle’s has proposed BadgerCare Plus allow more farm families to have access to affordable health insurance, changing the way a farmer’s income is calculated to determine eligibility for BadgerCare Plus benefits. The Governor's new proposal will allow more farmers to buy into BadgerCare even if they have depreciation income.
Assist Livestock Producers
Governor Doyle will strengthen the tools available to Wisconsin livestock producers and their industry by creating a Grow Wisconsin Livestock Team to help create a unified voice for the industry, and opening markets in other states for Wisconsin meat by aggressively pursuing federal legislation to eliminate the restrictions on the Interstate sale of state inspected Wisconsin meat.
Promote Wisconsin Produce
Governor Doyle will work to strengthen our Buy Wisconsin/ Buy Local programs which encourage direct marketing, farmers markets, and the purchase of locally produced foods and products.
Build Local Leadership in Next Generation Industries
Governor Doyle has launched an ambitious energy independence initiative that will grow a whole new industry, which is locally owned and controlled. Governor Doyle will provide additional incentives to create sustainable, local ownership and entrepreneurship in renewable fuels.
What others are saying:
“Governor Doyle included livestock siting in his Grow Wisconsin initiative shortly after he was elected, and he signed the bill into law. It was for this action – that provides certainty for farms to grow and modernize – that DBA primarily endorsed Governor Jim Doyle for re-election.
“But, beyond his commitment to livestock siting, Governor Jim Doyle recognizes that we need dairy farms of all sizes to maintain our position as America’s Dairyland. Governor Doyle is committed to providing a business and regulatory climate where we can upgrade, invest, and grow our businesses. We look forward to re-electing Governor Jim Doyle and working with his Administration over the next four years to grow the dairy industry in Wisconsin.”
John Vrieze, President of the Dairy Business Association (DBA)
“In my years of farming and working in the agriculture industry, I have never seen a Governor more focused on agriculture and its needs as Governor Jim Doyle. Jim Doyle has simply been the best Governor for agriculture in 25 years. We need to re-elect him on November 7.”
Michael Dummer, a grain farmer from Holmen, Wisconsin and Chairman of the DATCP Board.
“My husband Dennis and I are supporting Governor Doyle as he seeks a second term because he clearly understands that in the state of Wisconsin, dairy is our past, it is the economic engine that drives this state today, and it is our future.
“Governor Doyle has been a true friend for Wisconsin agriculture and rural communities. His economic development plan, Grow Wisconsin, contains several elements designed to help farmers upgrade, invest, and grow their businesses. He understands that dairy is the anchor of our state's economy, and that a thriving dairy business strengthens every other Wisconsin business sector.
“This Governor has demonstrated a strong commitment to Wisconsin's hardworking farm families - for this reason, he has won our enthusiastic support!”
Sandi Cihlar, a third generation dairy farmer from Mosinee, who has served on various agricultural and civic organizations.
“One issue really stands out in his extensive record of support for those of us out here on the farms of Wisconsin. That was his ability to take the very difficult issue of livestock siting in an increasingly urban society and build a consensus that will resolve the issue before it divides communities. He invited all people to sit at the table in a demonstration of how good government is supposed to work. It was a truly bipartisan effort that demonstrates how great leaders work.
“Governor Jim Doyle should be supported by every farmer for his leadership on this issue, as well as all the other initiatives he accomplished in his first four years.”
John Rosenow, a 5th generation farmer from Waumandee Wisconsin. Along with his wife, Nettie and neighbor Loren Wolfe, Rosenow owns and operates a 550 cow dairy.
