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Farming & our Rural
Economy
Agriculture remains a vital part of
Wisconsin’s economy, generating more than
$28.6 billion annually. Agriculture also
provides for 420,000 jobs, which accounts
for 12% of Wisconsin’s workforce. As
agriculture evolves and competes, Wisconsin
must stand ready to meet challenges that
increase productivity and enable
profitability.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Established Farmers Health Cooperative
(2003 Act 101 & 2005 Act 231): Harsdorf
authored the bill that led to the creation
of the nation’s first statewide health care
cooperative designed for farmers and
agribusinesses. Enrollment has exceeded
2,000 in its first year while providing more
options and better care for farmers
statewide.
Developed homegrown alternative fuels
(2005 AB 15): Wisconsin is well poised
because of its natural resources and current
production facilities to be a national
leader in the field of ethanol and bio-fuel
production. Today’s technological efforts
could hold the key for sustainable and
prosperous energy sources for our future and
Wisconsin should actively promote
alternative fuels.
County fair funding (2007 Act 20):
Once on the chopping block, the state has
now increased investments in county fairs
statewide by $300,000 for 2007-09. As a
4-H’er and fair exhibitor, I have
experienced firsthand the benefits fairs
provide to our communities and our youth.
Fairs not only provide valuable
opportunities for learning life and career
skills, but also instill the values of
family and working together.
Dairy Investment & Livestock Tax Credit
(2003 Act 135 & 2005 Act 25): Enables
dairy and livestock operations to expand and
modernize by providing tax credit up to
$50,000 that will increase net yields and
increase competition.
Sales tax exemption for farming inputs
(2005 Act 366): Reduce costs of
production and ensure Wisconsin farmers are
not at a competitive disadvantage.
ACTION
Building our Rural Economies
• Preserve productive farmland. Explore
alternatives such as those in the Working
Lands Initiative.
• Enable cooperatives to utilize the dairy
investment tax credit.
• Maintain use value assessment to ensure
farmers are taxed on the production value of
their land, not the market value.
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