By Brian E. Clark
RISING
Ag exports
Aided partly by a weak dollar, agricultural exports from Wisconsin
totaled a record $466 million in the first quarter of the year — a
jump of 18.4 percent over the first quarter of 2007.
Major increases include: 103 percent in dairy exports to $65 million;
19.5 percent in cereals, including corn and wheat, to $19.6 million;
1,000 percent in live cattle to $6.4 million; and 10 percent in dairy
genetics to $11 million.
The dramatic increase in live cattle sales stems from Mexico’s move to
lift age restrictions on U.S. cattle following the diagnosis of BSE in
a cow in Washington state in December 2003, the state said. Mexico also
removed a ban on processing U.S. cattle.
MIXED
Farm bill
The House has passed a $290 billion farm bill with a strong veto-proof
majority, offering more subsidies for farmers, food stamps for the poor
and special projects that lawmakers can bring home to voters this
election year.
The 318-106 vote for the five-year bill came despite President Bush’s
promised veto. He says the measure is too expensive and gives too much
money to wealthy farmers. The bill also passed the Senate in an 81-15
vote, with Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold voting for it.
Five House members in the Wisconsin congressional delegation voted no,
while three voted yes. The Wisconsin no votes included Democrat Ron
Kind and Republican Paul Ryan, who helped lead reform efforts against
the legislation. They were joined by Democrat Gwen Moore and
Republicans Tom Petri and Jim Sensenbrenner. Democrats David Obey,
Tammy Baldwin and Steve Kagen voted for the bill.
Calling the bill a “mixed bag,” Wisconsin Department of Agriculture,
Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Rod Nilsestuen said changes to
the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program would be beneficial to
Wisconsin dairy farmers. But he said he was disappointed by Congress’
“failure to recognize the need to put some substantial reforms into the
process.”
FALLING
Cranberry lawsuit
The state Supreme Court has declined to take up a nuisance suit filed
against a Sawyer County cranberry grower. Opponents said it challenged
the state’s Right to Farm law.
An appeals court earlier this year upheld a circuit court’s decision to
dismiss the suit, which was originally filed by former Attorney General
Peg Lautenschlager. A group of landowners then petitioned the court to
take up the case, but the justices declined.
The Farm Bureau Federation and other agriculture groups that opposed
the suit praised the decision.
