Agriculture
Representing one of the most productive farming regions in the country, I have worked hard on agriculture issues both in Wisconsin and in Washington. I believe that current agricultural policies are out of date and do not reflect the needs of the average Wisconsin farmer in today’s modern economy. This is why I have spent my time in Congress fighting to reform and modernize our agriculture policy.
Western Wisconsin is home to one of the largest dairy producing regions in the country. I have long believed that we need to forge a truly national dairy policy that stops pitting region against region. I have introduced a comprehensive plan to secure the future of the Wisconsin dairy industry. Read my full plan here(LINK).
Additionally, I have highlighted the promise and needs of organic agriculture by founding and co-chairing the Congressional Organic Caucus.
I have used my position on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee to advocate for tax benefits to help family farmers thrive and innovate. I authored a Biogas Investment Tax Credit to encourage dairy producers to control their animal waste with the use of manure digesters while also producing renewable energy.
I continue to look for new ways to assist small and beginning farmers and those who produce renewable energy on the farm through tax incentives; to expand market opportunities abroad; and to provide access to an adequate labor supply through reform of the H-2B program.
More on Agriculture
Washington, DC —Today, Rep. Ron Kind encouraged Wisconsin dairy farmers to sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2021 ahead of the December 11 deadline. The program offers protection for dairy farmers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.
La Crosse, WI – Today, Rep. Ron Kind helped lead 111 of his colleagues in a bipartisan letter calling on the Administration to make protecting common food and wine terms a priority in future trade discussions, ensuring access to fair trade rules for Wisconsin farmers, workers, and businesses.
La Crosse, WI—Today, Rep. Ron Kind sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer demanding answers as to why the Administration recently finalized a trade agreement with Brazil that did not include any agricultural provisions, leaving behind Wisconsin farmers at a time when they are in desperate need of relief.
La Crosse, WI— Today, Rep. Ron Kind announced that he received the 2020 Friend of the Family Farmer Award from Wisconsin Farmers Union. First given in 2013, this award recognizes those who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to uplift rural communities and family farmers.
La Crosse, WI— Rep. Ron Kind recently received the Friend of Farm Bureau award from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). This award recognizes Rep. Kind for his outstanding commitment to supporting Wisconsin farmers and food security for communities across the country. 2020 has been a tough year for family farmers, with COVID-19 upending food supply chains and sharply hampering markets that are critical for our farmers. Rep.
Washington, DC — Today, Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI) introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission to evaluate the difficulties facing Wisconsin dairy farmers and recommend solutions needed to secure the future of Wisconsin dairy. Wisconsin has led the nation in farm bankruptcies for the past two years, underscoring the need to take substantive steps toward identifying and implementing critical reforms and ensuring dairy farmers have the tools they need to succeed.
Washington, DC—Today, Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Tom Reed (R-NY), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), Anthony Brindisi (D-NY), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), and 96 of their colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue urging them to swiftly implement the measures negotiated for the dairy industry in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
La Crosse, WI— Today, Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Josh Harder (D-CA), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and 46 of their colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer and United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue urging their offices to work swiftly on a comprehensive Phase Two trade agreement with Japan.
Washington, DC—Today, Rep. Ron Kind released the following statement on the implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA):