WFC and MAC comment on the Farm Bill
MADISON, Wis. (May 23, 2008) – As President Bush’s veto of the Farm Bill has been overridden by both houses of Congress, the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives (WFC) and Minnesota Association of Cooperatives (MAC) acknowledge that the bill is not perfect, but it’s a compromise. The statewide cooperative organizations of Wisconsin and Minnesota have pushed for changes in the Farm Bill to benefit their members.
“While not perfect, the Farm Bill needed to pass because it is so important to the vitality of both rural and urban communities in our two states,” said Bill Oemichen, president and CEO of WFC and MAC. “It bolsters everything from school lunch programs to nutrition assistance, from bioenergy research to conservation of natural resources.”
The Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program was set to expire with the last farm bill, so pushing for inclusion of the program in the 2008 Farm Bill was one of WFC-MAC’s top legislative priorities.
“Programs like MILC are essential for providing a strong financial safety net for both Wisconsin and Minnesota dairy producers,” said Oemichen. “So when prices drop too low, farmers won’t have to make the choice between putting food on the table or providing health insurance for their families.”
“The energy provisions in this bill will help to ensure continued research and development of biofuels and feedstocks, the combination of which will help reduce dependency on foreign sources of oil,” said Oemichen.
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