Issue Position: Farming and the Rural Economy

Issue Position

I grew up on my family's small dairy farm in Askeaton, in southern Brown County. I know firsthand the hard work that farmers do and the pride that they feel toward their land and their livelihood. Family farms are still the backbone of Wisconsin's economy, contributing over $50 billion to the state each year.

As head of the state's economic development programs, I worked closely with many business leaders and farmers to create jobs in our rural communities. As a Congressman, I will continue my work to invigorate the rural economy in Northeast Wisconsin.

These are my priorities in this area:

Extend the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program -- The MILC program protects dairy farm families from volatile milk prices and should be extended.

Support trade agreements that help family farmers -- Trade agreements can benefit Wisconsin farmers but the guidelines and rules should promote fairness, minimize disruptions in the agricultural economy, and protect Wisconsin workers.

Reward responsible stewardship -- Farm programs should reward conservation as well as production. I'll work to reward farmers who go the extra mile to protect the land and keep in place conservation programs that ensure productivity for generations to come.

Help rural schools -- Smaller rural school districts sometimes struggle to provide a broad range of course offerings and support basic education. The federal government can help provide adequate special education funding. It can also promote broadband Internet access for rural schools, which brings the world to the classroom door.

Protect and extend the Business and Industry (B & I) Guaranteed Loan Program -- This program targets rural communities and improves the economic climate with incentives for business and industry expansion and development.

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