Contact: Casey Langan, Director of Public Relations, 608-828-5711
Political changes, a number of revamped farm regulations, where the economy heads, and tough decisions about the next U.S. farm bill and state budget are the five stories that Farm Bureau predicts will make headlines in 2011.
MADISON — 2011 shapes up to be a watershed year for Wisconsin agriculture.
Over the next 12 months the political and economic worlds are likely to be redefined. Two documents that greatly impact Wisconsin agriculture (the U.S. farm bill and the state budget) will be drafted, and regulations that impact water quality, livestock siting and land use could all see revamps. As part of his annual year-end “Farm Bureau Picks,” Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Bill Bruins says these will be the five stories that make headlines for agriculture in 2011.
CHANGE IN POLITICS
“The outcome of 2010’s elections will mean big political changes in 2011,” Bruins said. “Here in Wisconsin, we’ll see a shift from the left to the right as Scott Walker takes the reins as governor in January. His fellow Republicans will also take back control of both houses of the Legislature with sizable majorities. What this means for our state’s $59 billion agriculture industry remains to be seen. It will also be interesting to see how President Obama works with a Congress split by a Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled House.”
U.S. FARM BILL & STATE BUDGET
Bruins predicts that two key items that state and federal lawmakers will be working on in 2011 will also make a lot of news: the 2012 U.S. farm bill and the 2011-13 state budget.
“Crushing government debts are sure to spell big changes for the nation’s farm policy and state’s fiscal priorities. All of this greatly impacts our farms and families,” he said. “On the federal level this could be the year that we see significant dairy policy reform. Here in Wisconsin, we could see a greater emphasis on promoting agricultural trade as a way to grow our state’s economy.”
REGULATIONS
“The process of updating and implementing a number of state regulations will take place in 2011,” said Bruins. “Land use plans will be due from the first round of fastest-growing Wisconsin counties under the Working Lands Program. Changes to the livestock siting law will be debated. Implementation of the Department of Natural Resources’ water quality rules known as NR 151 will take place at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and through county land conservation departments.”
ECONOMY
Finally, the direction the economy takes in 2011 is sure to be a big story. Will a tepid recovery continue at a slow place or will the resurgence quicken? To what degree will agriculture contribute to Wisconsin’s economic recovery?
“Many ag commodity prices are rising which should both increase farm profitability, and strengthen land values which will ultimately improve farmers’ balance sheets,” Bruins said.
“Danish physicist Niels Bohr once said that prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future,” said Bruins. “He might have a point, but I predict these are the issues we’ll be rehashing a year from now.”.
“Farm Bureau Picks” of the top issues of 2011:
* Change in Politics
* U.S. Farm Bill
* 2011-13 State Budget
* Regulations
* Economy
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is Wisconsin’s largest general farm organization, representing farms of all sizes, commodity type and management style.
Bill Bruins, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President since 2003, is a dairy farmer from Fond du Lac County.
