FIFTY PER CENT DECLINE IN FARM INCOME……CHANGE NEEDED IN FARM BILL

By Darin Von Ruden, President, Wisconsin Farmers Union and a dairy farmer from Westby, Wisconsin. This Farm Bill is critically important. Here in Wisconsin, we’ve seen devastating dips in dairy and crop prices. The American farm economy is on the brink of a crisis. We need a drastic change in direction in the next Farm Bill. It may be time to focus less on how technology and exports are going to save the day and more on what can be done to address declining farm numbers, struggling rural communities, growing environmental concerns and the staggering anti-competitive consolidation in ag sectors. American farmers and ranchers have faced a 50 ...