Agriculture

Congressman Kind, in Bangor, talks trade with farmers

Published

6 years ago

April 23, 2019

Rep. Ron Kind joins farm experts and local producers at a meeting about farm exports near Bangor

BANGOR, Wis. — Bankruptcies and other financial problems for Wisconsin farmers might be avoided by opening up more trade with foreign countries.

Promoting farm exports is the goal of a campaign called Farmers for Free Trade, which brought farm experts together at a Bangor dairy Tuesday for a discussion of future needs.

Jim Mulhern, the president of the National Milk Producers Federation, said neighboring countries want American farm goods.

According to Mulhern, Mexico “is the No. 1 market for U.S. dairy, because we have duty-free access and that shows you what a trade agreement can do for industry. “

La Crosse Congressman Ron Kind took part in the trade discussion. He said increased exports could keep Wisconsin’s farm economy healthy.

“I think it is important for us to be out negotiating trade agreements that elevate standards to our level,” Kind said, “so that our farmers, our manufacturers, our workers can successfully compete in the global market.”

At the Creamery Creek Holstein farm, Kind said that trading partners, like Mexico and China, could retaliate if Washington imposes too many tariffs on imported products.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.