Wisconsin Ag Connection - Doyle: I'm Not Ready to Sign Raw Milk Bill... Yet

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Doyle: I'm Not Ready to Sign Raw Milk Bill... Yet
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 05/13/2010

Just one day after two national milk marketing groups blasted the Wisconsin Legislature for putting together the so-called raw milk bill, Governor Jim Doyle says he's not ready to make a decision yet on whether he will sign the measure into law. Speaking to reporters during a bill signing ceremony on a Marathon County dairy farm on Wednesday, Doyle said he has received a lot of information from both sides of the issue over the past several days, and said a final decision will be made next week.

"I'm still doing my homework on this issue and am not ready yet to decide one way or another," Doyle told Wisconsin Ag Connection. "I know this is a hot topic and people feel strongly about their views. I just have to give this a little more thought before I sign it."

Dairy Business Association President Jerry Meissner used the occasion to hand deliver a letter from his group outlining their concerns over the bill. He also pleaded with the governor face to face to not move forward on the proposal.

"Wisconsin's dairy industry has come a long way over the past several years, and much of that success is to your credit," Meissner said to Doyle. "Don't destroy your own legacy by signing this bill into law... especially during your final months in office."

Specifically, the DBA is concern that people have a greater chance of getting sick from Salmonella or e. Coli outbreaks by consuming unpasteurized dairy products. They also fear that children would be most likely to contract one of these outbreaks, and probably wouldn't have a choice in the matter because their parents would be purchasing the product for them.

On Tuesday, the National Milk Producers Federation and International Dairy Foods Association issued a statement criticizing state lawmakers for drafting the bill, calling them 'irresponsible' for downplaying the food safety risks inherent in raw dairy products. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau has also been vocal about the issue, fearing that a disease outbreak could give the entire dairy industry a bad rap if just one person became ill from drinking unpasteurized milk.

Doyle had previously stated that he will likely signed the bill and thought the final version struck a 'good balance' for those who want to buy the product, while protecting those who do not know the risks.

Meanwhile, the rest of the day's events focused on four new bills that Doyle did pass into law:

** Assembly Bill 756 extends the Dairy Farm Tax Credit, which since 2004 has resulted in more than $50 million dollars in tax credits to production agriculture and has generated more than $500 million dollars in private-on-farm investment. The original tax credits expired in January 2010.

** Assembly Bill 757 will provide a refundable food processing and distribution tax credit equal to 10-percent of modernization or expansion cost for Wisconsin food processors and distributors.

** Assembly Bill 746 will create the framework for a statewide Farm to School Program. It would also establish a statewide Farm to School Advisory Council within the Department of Agriculture and would create a statewide Farm to School coordinator and grant program.

** And Senate Bill 527, known as the Producer Security legislation will provides some crucial improvements to Wisconsin's Agricultural Producer Security program within the DATCP.

Assembly Ag Committee Chairperson Amy Sue Vruwink says all four proposals had overwhelmingly support while working through the Legislature process.

"The state legislature is committed to promoting and protecting the agricultural industry,” Vruwink said while attending the ceremony. "These four new laws will do just that."

The event took place at the Peter and Susie Arnold near Edgar. Doyle says it was one of the more unique places he has ever signed bills into law, but commended the family for being innovative and progressive in their dairy business.

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