Folks representing a variety of farm groups travel to Madison to lobby their lawmakers about state issues that affect them. Ag Day at the Capitol is the largest gathering of farmers from across Wisconsin.
“We’ll have probably close to 500 farmers … all types of farmers from our diverse ag sector here in the state.”
Casey Langan is with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. He says folks in the agriculture industry are gathering at the Monona Terrace and talk about their biggest concerns, including state climate change legislation, use-value assessment of farmland, animal welfare and proposed changes to the DNR’s run-off rules (the state’s nonpoint regulations — NR 151).
Farmers will later meet with their state legislators face-to-face at the nearby capitol building. Langan says lawmakers do listen.
“It’s important because, as a former legislative aid, I know that legislators really do want to hear from people back home in their districts. And they know that these people took a day off off work to come to Madison to come talk to them.”
Likewise, he says, lawmakers need to know that they can call on the experts in the ag industry in their home district for real life information.
State Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink (D-Milladore), the chairwoman of the Assembly Agriculture Committee will speak about agricultural issues. Also State Rep. Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem), a leading critic of state-sponsored climate change legislation will address the crowd, along with Ag Secretary Rod Nilsestuen and sponsors of the event.
Wisconsin Corn Growers Association
Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
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