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Issues
Agriculture Diverse Agricultural Economy
Wisconsin is a leader in production of
potatoes, ginseng, cranberries, various processing vegetables,
and many organic foods. Over the past few years, I have promoted
policies to help bolster these industries by protecting against
infected potatoes entering the United States, enacted new
safeguards against hoof and mouth disease, and ensured fair
trading practices for Wisconsin's ginseng growers. Also, following
my request, USDA agreed to update the rotation requirements
for potato crop insurance, allowing Wisconsin farmers to compete
with farmers in other states. I will continue to listen to
Wisconsin's farmers and craft policies that address their
diverse concerns.
Farming is a risky business, and a number of farmers have
told me about their desire to keep their families eligible
for federal benefits in the event that something happens to
them. To offer farmers and other self-employed individuals
more security for their families, in the 108th Congress, I
introduced the Farmer Tax Fairness Act of 2004. My bill would
have updated the tax code so as to give farmers and self-employed
individuals the option of paying taxes at a level sufficient
to maintain maximum eligibility for benefits.
It is important for farmers and other self-employed individuals
to be able to protect their families and loved ones in the
case of a death or disability. By working to correct this
injustice in the tax code, I am working to give farmers the
option to look out for their families into the future. I have
recently reintroduced this legislation, S.896
in the 109th Congress and hope to see it enacted.
Agriculture
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