Ron Kind: “In Wisconsin, the dairy industry is still the number one industry in the entire State. The district I represent, the…”

“In Wisconsin, the dairy industry is still the number one industry in the entire State. The district I represent, the Third Congressional District of western Wisconsin, has approximately 10,500 family farms still existing, still operating, today, all of which are producing some commodity crops. Therefore, I have had a strong interest, and all of the members of the committee have had a strong interest, in putting together a farm bill that is going to provide the assistance that our family farmers need across the country and not just in one particular region. In Wisconsin, over the last couple of years, we have been losing between four and five family farms a day, because of the low prices, because of the low milk prices, because of low commodity prices. So obviously, the farm bill that we have been operating under over the last 5 years has not inured to the benefit of most family farmers across the country. That is why I feel that it is time for a new approach with farm policy.”