Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes visits farm near Coon Valley
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) – Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes stopped at St. Brigid’s Meadows, a farm near Coon Valley, to talk about initiatives that support Wisconsin’s rural farming industry.
Barnes spoke to area farmers on Thursday to spread the word about Wisconsin Governor Tony Ever’s new agenda.
Gov. Evers introduced his new year plans to aid farmers at the State of the State Address on Wednesday. He signed two executive orders to create the Blue Ribbon Commission on Rural Prosperity, and called for a special session on rural issues scheduled for next week.
Lt. Barnes and Gov. Evers traveled throughout Wisconsin to deliver the news to local farmers.
The price of milk, tariffs, and weather have all played a part in agriculture’s rapid decline.
In October last year, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said, “In America, the big get bigger and the small go out” while talking to Wisconsin farmers about the future of agriculture.
During his trip, Lt. Barnes said that Purdue’s comment was “truly a slap in the face” to farmers who have dedicated their lives to create quality farming products throughout the state.
“Where the federal government has failed to act, we step up to the plate and do something for struggling communities,” said Lt. Barnes. “Obviously we have a long way to go, and it’s time for the majority party in legislature to get on board. Not with our will, but the will of the people of this state.”
According to a independent food and agriculture study, the US cattle industry will be nearly bankrupt in ten years.
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