La Crosse, WI— Rep. Ron Kind recently received the Friend of Farm Bureau award from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). This award recognizes Rep. Kind for his outstanding commitment to supporting Wisconsin farmers and food security for communities across the country. 2020 has been a tough year for family farmers, with COVID-19 upending food supply chains and sharply hampering markets that are critical for our farmers. Rep. Kind heard from family farmers throughout the district and took action by laying out a plan to provide family farmers the resources they needed to get through the crisis, while also developing legislation to protect the long-term future of Wisconsin’s dairy farmers.
“I’m very honored to receive the Friend of Farm Bureau award,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “As a lifelong Wisconsinite, I know our family farmers are the backbone of our economy and the heart of our rural communities. Our farmers ensure we have safe, reliable, and affordable food production right here in Wisconsin, and have demonstrated their ability to grow and innovate even through tough times. Our communities, state, and nation are a better place because of their work, and I will continue to fight for our family farmers in the halls of Congress.”
“From fighting for critical enforcement measures for farmers in USMCA to ensuring farmers are eligible for COVID-19 financial support programs, Rep. Ron Kind listened and responded to the needs of Wisconsin farmers,” said Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Joe Bragger. “He also remains committed to ensuring that Wisconsin remains America’s Dairyland for generations to come. For these reasons I am proud to present Rep. Kind with the Friend of Farm Bureau award. His voting record in support of farmers and rural communities makes him a well-qualified candidate for this recognition.”
Rep. Kind worked closely with the WFBF to develop bipartisan legislation to evaluate the difficulties facing Wisconsin dairy farmers and recommend solutions needed to secure the future of Wisconsin dairy. Wisconsin has led the nation in farm bankruptcies for the past two years, underscoring the need to take substantive steps toward identifying and implementing critical reforms and ensuring dairy farmers have the tools they need to succeed.
Expanding and securing Wisconsin farmers’ export markets has also been a longtime priority for Rep. Kind. During this Congress, Rep. Kind worked tirelessly to make sure the USMCA is fully enforceable to guarantee increased access to the Canadian dairy market, improve Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards, ensure a faster and more enforceable dispute settlement process, and increase labor and environmental standards.
Rep. Kind also released his Family Farm Rescue Plan in April following the COVID-19 outbreak, which focused on five concrete steps that the Administration could take to support family farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including ensuring farmers are eligible for all small business relief programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). To make PPP work for more Wisconsin farmers, Rep. Kind introduced bipartisan legislation to expand farmers’ access to the critical program.
