A few weeks ago, I went to Madison to spend a couple of days helping shape Wisconsin agricultural policy. As a member of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Policy Development Committee, it’s my job to help sift through all of the recommendations from farmers around the state, and decide which ones are the most important. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau is a way for farmers to speak up and have a voice in state policy, and to educate people about the importance of agriculture – a 59 billion dollar industry in Wisconsin.
The recommendations we look at come from farmers across the state, and they deal with important issues such as land use, utilities, and food safety and quality control. It’s important for farmers to have a voice in these issues, since we contribute so much to our economy and we know the best ways to care for our animals and our land. Also, if a policy issue doesn’t go the way we wanted, it’s still good to know how that policy is going to affect our farms, and to be able to prepare for it.
At Majestic Crossing Dairy, we believe it’s important to be involved in the community, and that includes the statewide level. I have a good grasp of agricultural issues, and I know how important agriculture is to Wisconsin. It’s my hope that I can advocate for farmers in some small way. So even though I’ll be away from home for a couple of days, the effort is worthwhile.
