Friday, December 18, 2009

Congressman Steve Kagen Wearing Out His Welcome

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Funding for milk farmers from the Green Bay Press Gazette doesn't seem to have any comments from Congressman Steve Kagen.
"Relief on the way for state dairy farmers
By LARRY BIVINS • Press-Gazette Washington Bureau lbivins@greenbaypressgazette.com • December 18, 2009

WASHINGTON — Wisconsin dairy farmers struggling to cope with low milk prices and high production cost should soon see some relief from the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture began distributing $290 million Thursday in direct assistance to dairy farmers. The one-time payments will be made under the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment Program.

The amount of compensation per farmer will be based on twice the total pounds of production sold commercially from February through July of this year, up to 6 million pounds.

The payment comes from $350 million that Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau, and Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Milwaukee, helped secure in the Agriculture spending bill that President Barack Obama signed on Oct. 21. That includes $60 million for the federal government to buy cheese and other dairy products for food banks and federal nutrition programs.

Obey said the average Wisconsin dairy farmer with about 85 cows can expect to receive at least $5,000. Combined with the distribution of $175 million under the Milk Income Loss Contract, the average Wisconsin farmer will have received $13,000.

"Everyone understands that this does not make these farmers whole for the losses they have taken because of the historically low prices this year. But it might be the difference between getting by or going out of business," Obey said.

Milk prices paid to farmers dropped about 27 percent from the final three months of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009, according to the USDA. The average price farmers received for milk during the summer was about half their production cost.

By year's end, Obey said, the amount of assistance to Wisconsin farmers could exceed $250 million."
Relief on the way for state dairy farmers | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette
Since Congressman Steve Kagen is on U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, why did the PG not get a comment from Steve Kagen? Is the paper running from Kagen, are they trying to ignore him? Maybe they just forget to call the congressman who goes to bat for us in Wisconsin.



Oh wait, Larry from the GBP (Gannett) wrote a longer article for Oshkosh. Seems they put a comment in by Kagen. Hey Larry, Kagens 8th district does not cover Oshkosh! Looks like Steve Kagen is wearing out his welcome at the Green Bay Press. Does Larry really see who Kagen really is?  I wonder? Here's the Northwestern article.


"Relief on the way for Wis. dairy farmers
By LARRY BIVINS • Gannett Washington Bureau • December 18, 2009

WASHINGTON - Wisconsin dairy farmers struggling to cope with low milk prices and high production cost should soon see some relief from the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture began distributing $290 million Thursday in direct assistance to dairy farmers. The one-time payments will be made under the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment Program.

The amount of compensation per farmer will be based on twice the total pounds of production sold commercially from February through July of this year, up to 6 million pounds.

The payment comes from $350 million that Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau, and Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., helped secure in the Agriculture spending bill that President Barack Obama signed on Oct. 21. That includes $60 million for the federal government to buy cheese and other dairy products for food banks and federal nutrition programs.

Obey said the average Wisconsin dairy farmer with about 85 cows can expect to receive at least $5,000. Combined with the distribution of $175 million under the Milk Income Loss Contract, the average Wisconsin farmer will have received $13,000 .

"Everyone understands that this does not make these farmers whole for the losses they have taken because of the historically low prices this year. But it might be the difference between getting by or going out of business," Obey said in a statement.

Kohl said he hoped "these payments will bring a measure of relief to the hardships we witnessed in rural communities across our state and country."

Milk prices paid to farmers dropped about 27 percent from the final three months of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009, according to the USDA. The average price farmers received for milk during the summer was about half their production cost.

Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Appleton, also cheered the announcement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

"I have met with dairy farmers throughout Wisconsin, and they have told me that when the price of milk falls, they suffer," Kagen said. "These payments will help eligible dairy producers stabilize their operations during these tough economic times."

By year’s end, Obey said, the amount of assistance to Wisconsin farmers could exceed $250 million."
Relief on the way for Wis. dairy farmers | thenorthwestern.com | Oshkosh Northwestern

Let's not forget who is paying for all this.





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