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House Ag Republican leader anxious to start farm bill work

The Republican leader of the House Ag Committee wants to get to work on the next farm bill.

Congressman Glenn GT Thompson was in Wisconsin Tuesday listening to farmers and dairy processors, and he tells Brownfield farm bill work is starting much later than he would like. “We’re about eighteen months overdue having hearings. I’ve been very frustrated. Now, a big part of that was COVID and I get that. We really, and I’ve had those discussions with Chairman Scott, it’s time to start getting people to the table.”

Thompson says he travels around the country to hear from farmers about what is working in the current farm bill, and what needs to be addressed.  He tells Brownfield farmers are really talking about two big issues. “Workforce, making sure you have a reliable workforce. I’m hearing a lot about the threats that are being proposed with perhaps raising the basis, inheritance tax, or death tax or capital gains.”

Thompson says he also hears a lot of support for commodity-specific and new market research.

Thompson toured the LeClare Family Dairy goat farm-to-fork operation with farmers and cheesemakers near Malone, Wisconsin Tuesday.