Column from U.S. Senator Russ Feingold Farm Bill Strengthens Wisconsin Communities June 23, 2008 Congress created opportunities for rural communities, strengthened Wisconsin’s dairy farming economy, and supported small family farmers in the Farm Bill passed this year. While I was disappointed that the Bill did not do more to target limited resources to programs essential to family farmers and rural communities, this bill made significant improvements in other areas: The Farm Bill boosts rural communities with provisions similar to those in the Rural Opportunities Act, a bill I introduced last year. These measures help ensure rural broadband programs are truly targeted to rural communities, encourage schools and others to purchase food from local farmers, invest in the growing organic agriculture market, support development of the local and regional bioeconomy, and provide country of origin labeling for many products, including ginseng. Wisconsin’s vital dairy farming economy also gets support from the Farm Bill. Provisions in the bill make sure that the Milk Income Loss Contract program provides adequate support for small and medium farms when prices are low, and improve oversight of dairy markets and price reporting. Also, Wisconsin’s livestock farmers who use smaller state-inspected meat processors will be able to make their products available in other states thanks to an initiative from Senator Kohl that I supported. The tax code will no longer put farmers at further disadvantage during lean years thanks to a provision I proposed that updates the law to ensure farmers and the self-employed have a way to remain eligible for Social Security and disability benefits. Another of my provisions ensures that small farmers get increased attention and access to farm programs through an improved USDA Small Farms division of the Office of Advocacy and Outreach. The Farm Bill also makes significant improvements to conservation programs, which many farmers across Wisconsin use currently or hope to use in the future. Programs like the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) or the renamed Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) have long waiting lists or limited eligibility, and the additional funds provided by the Farm Bill will allow many more farmers to enroll. In addition, the bill made long overdue changes to nutrition programs. Perhaps most notably, benefits under the Food Stamp program have been increased and indexed to inflation, and a significant increase has been provided for the Emergency Supplemental Food Program (TEFAP) which supports food pantries. I was also pleased to see increased funds for community food programs, a fresh fruit and vegetable snack program, the farmers market promotion program, WIC farmers market vouchers, and other programs that promote local and community food systems and nutritious eating. Despite these important provisions, I was disappointed that the Farm Bill did not do enough to protect taxpayer dollars by reforming farm support payments. The federal government will continue to make payments to wealthy landowners, no matter whether it is a good or bad year or even if they farm their land. These direct payments are based on a history of crops grown on the land, regardless of what is currently planted (if anything) or crop prices. I supported several reform efforts, and authored an amendment to trim direct payments to the largest landowners. I also supported amendments to cap subsidy payments to the largest producers at $250,000 per person per year, lower the adjusted gross income cap, and reduce subsidies to crop insurers. While the Farm Bill should have included more reforms, I was very pleased about other provisions it did include to improve the outlook for Wisconsin farmers, rural residents and anyone struggling to put food on the table. I’m proud to represent Wisconsin’s hardworking farmers, and the rural communities that are the backbone of our state. I will continue to work for policies that give them the support they deserve.