Serving in his role as chairman of the Midwest Governor's Association, Governor Jim Doyle testified Tuesday before the Senate Committee on Agriculture about the 2007 reauthorization of the Farm Bill. Doyle says the legislation is important to Wisconsin because of the major impact of agriculture on the state economy. The industry generates over $51 billion for the state economy each year.
Doyle says conservation issues were the main focus of his testimony. However, he also testified about the importance of keeping the Milk Income Loss Contract program. The MILC program has paid out over $413 million to Wisconsin dairy farmers and Doyle wants to see the program made permanent if the Farm Bill is reauthorized.
Congress is expected to act on the legislation later this year.