Congressman Ron Kind proposes revisions to federal farm policy.
The La Crosse Democrat unveiled his “Healthy Farms, Foods and Fuels Act.” Kind says it increases incentives for stewardship and provides consumers with more healthy food choices by promoting organic agriculture. “We also need a significant energy title to the next farm bill, so we can ramp up production of alternative and biofuels,” said Kind. His proposed bill would provide one hundred million dollars for development of fuels and energy on farms and ranches — something Kind's Republican challenger, Paul R. Nelson, doesn't necessarily disagree with. “Certainly, we do need to look at some more monies towards biofuels,” Nelson said.
Kind notes that the the federal farm bill is up for renewal in 2007 and will be heavily debated in Congress over the next year, and he wants to start addressing needed changes now. Nelson says Kind's bill would include in excess of a billion and a half dollars in additional spending, something he questions in light of the federal budget deficit.
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