Wisconsin Ag Connection - Kohl's Staff to Hold Farm Bill Listening Hours Across the State

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Kohl's Staff to Hold Farm Bill Listening Hours Across the State
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 04/05/2012

As Congress continues debate over the next federal budget, outgoing U.S. Senator Herb Kohl says he wants Wisconsin farmers to have a voice in how the nation's money is invested through the next Farm Bill. The Milwaukee Democrat has announced that he and his staff are putting together over 40 listening sessions across the state in the coming weeks, where producers will have an opportunity to meet with regional representatives and provide feedback on agricultural priorities.

Kohl says Wisconsin is known as an agricultural leader and provides more than 350,000 jobs in our state.

"One of the most important goals of this Farm Bill is to create a quality safety net for both dairy and crop producers," Kohl said. "Because farming is capital intensive and its product a necessity worldwide, we first and foremost must provide producers with an adequate safety net that accurately responds to their needs and market signals. While a safety net is the lynchpin of this Farm Bill, we must also continue to invest in nutrition assistance, research, conservation, and alternative energy. Delivering on these other items will help to extend the positive impact of an adequate safety net."

The Senator says it's important for rural America to be heard during the next few months, especially during a period of tight budgets and talk of scrapping a farm policy all together.

"As farmers do annually for their own operations, the federal government is responsible for reducing our budget deficit, eliminating wasteful spending, and maximizing our investments," he says. "This requires Congress to closely examine the entire federal budget to determine which spending practices are the most effective and essential. However, as farmers understand, when you are faced with difficult decisions there is also an opportunity to refocus on what's most important."

The sessions will be held at the following locations:

** April 12 - Dodgeville (Iowa County) - 9:00 to 10:00 - Iowa County FSA

** April 12 - Manitowoc (Manitowoc County) - 10:00 to 11:30 - Manitowoc County FSA

** April 12 - Darlington (Lafayette County) - 11:00 to 12:00 - Lafayette County FSA

** April 12 - Loyal (Clark County) - 12:30 to 2:00 - Loyal City Hall

** April 12 - Monroe (Green County) - 1:00 to 2:30 - Monroe Public Library

** April 12 - Sheboygan (Sheboygan County) - 1:00 to 2:30 - Sheboygan County FSA

** April 13 - Black River Falls (Jackson County) - 9:00 to 10:30 - Jackson County FSA

** April 13 - Ashland (Ashland County) - 10:00 to 11:00 - Ashland County FSA

** April 13 - Westfield (Marquette County) - 10:00 to 11:30 - Marquette County FSA

** April 13 - Mauston (Juneau County) - 12:00 to 1:30 - Juneau County FSA

** April 13 - Spooner (Washburn County) - 1:30 to 2:30 - Washburn County FSA

** April 13 - Wisconsin Rapids (Wood County) - 3:00 to 4:30 - McMillan Memorial Library

** April 16 - Janesville (Rock County) - 9:00 to 10:30 - Rock County FSA

** April 16 - Richland Center (Richland County) - 10:30 to 11:30 - Richland County FSA

** April 16 - Appleton (Outagamie County) - 10:00 to 11:30 - Outagamie County FSA

** April 16 - Baldwin (St. Croix County) - 10:30 to 11:30 - St. Croix County FSA

** April 16 - Elkhorn (Walworth County) - 11:30 to 12:30 - Walworth County FSA

** April 16 - Ellsworth (Pierce County) - 1:00 to 2:30 - Pierce County Courthouse

** April 16 - Chilton (Calumet County) - 1:00 to 2:30 - Calumet County Courthouse

** April 16 - Viroqua (Vernon County) - 1:30 to 2:30 - Vernon County FSA

** April 16 - Jefferson (Jefferson County) - 2:00 to 3:30 - Jefferson County FSA

** April 17 - Sun Prairie (Dane County) - 8:30 to 9:30 - Sun Prairie City Hall

** April 17 - Chippewa Falls (Chippewa County) - 8:00 to 9:30 - Chippewa County FSA

** April 17 - Stevens Point (Portage County) - 10:00 to 11:30 - Portage County Courthouse Annex

** April 17 - Portage (Columbia County) - 10:30 to 12:00 - Portage Public Library

** April 17 - Shawano (Shawano County) - 10:00 to 11:30 - Shawano County FSA

** April 17 - Ladysmith (Rusk County) - 11:00 to 12:30 - Ladysmith Public Library

** April 17 - Waupaca (Waupaca County) - 1:00 to 2:30 - Waupaca County FSA

** April 17 - Prairie du Sac (Sauk County) - 1:30 to 2:30 - Prairie du Sac Village Hall

** April 17 - Barron (Barron County) - 1:30 to 3:00 - Barron County Courthouse

** April 17 - Wausau (Marathon County) - 2:30 to 4:00 - Marathon County Courthouse

** April 18 - Antigo (Langlade County) - 10:00 to 11:30 - Langlade County Resource Center

** April 18 - Green Bay (Brown County) - 10:00 to 11:30 - Brown County UW-Extension

** April 18 - Sturgeon Bay (Door County) - 1:00 to 2:30 - Door County FSA

** April 18 - Rhinelander (Oneida County) - 1:00 to 2:30 - Oneida County FSA

** April 20 - Oshkosh (Winnebago County) - 10:00 to 11:30 - Winnebago County FSA

** April 20 - Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac County) - 1:00 to 2:30 - Fond du Lac County FSA

** April 23 - Whitehall (Trempealeau County) - 10:30 to 11:30 - Trempealeau County FSA

** April 24 - Menomonie (Dunn County) - 9:00 to 10:30 - Dunn County FSA

** April 24 - Durand (Pepin County) - 11:00 to 12:30 - Pepin County Government Center

** April 24 - Gays Mills (Crawford) - 12:00 to 1:00 - Gays Mills Village Hall

** April 24 - Alma (Buffalo County) - 2:00 to 3:30 - Buffalo County Courthouse

** April 25 - Altoona (Eau Claire County) - 9:30 to 11:00 - Eau Claire County FSA

Kohl's office noted that producers who cannot attend a meeting can also call 800-247-5645 to share their concerns.

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