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Wisconsin legislators, ag groups push expanded ag export funding bill

Photo (L-R): Kevin Krenz, Karl Pippenger, Representative Tony Kurtz, Eric Johnson, Senator Joan Ballweg, Jack Heinemann, Tom Crave

Two Wisconsin legislators say Governor Tony Evers’ export expansion proposal doesn’t go far enough.  State Senator Joan Ballweg says, “We know that Wisconsin ranks first in exports for things like ginseng roots, prepared and preserved cranberries, raw fur skins, and bovine semen, yet these industries are excluded from the Governor’s proposal in his current budget.”

State Representative Tony Kurtz agrees.  “Over 104 billion dollars we produce, but yet we only export roughly, you know, about 3.5 billion dollars.”

Ballweg and Kurtz introduced their agriculture and agribusiness comprehensive export program Monday, which would require the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to create a plan and achieve export objectives by June 30^th, 2026.

Cranberry grower Karl Pippenger says high tariffs hurt their growers.  “We estimate about 43 million dollars lost because of lost trade with the export problems we had.  We export 35% of our crop.”

Jack Heinemann is the export sales manager for Specialty Cheese Company in Reeseville, Wisconsin.  He says 90% of Wisconsin dairy products are sold into the domestic U.S. market, and the opportunities are overseas.  Heinemann says, “If we want to continue to grow as the dairy industry, we will need to pursue the export market.  Ninety-seven percent of our potential customers live outside the U.S. borders.”  He adds, “This is good for not only processors who are major employers in rural communities but this will also benefit their farmer patrons who have also faced volatility this year.”

Ballweg says Wisconsin is in the top ten states for agricultural production, but only in the second tier for exports, so there are opportunities for growth.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Kevin Krentz says, “It builds upon export programs at DATCP and WEDC that already exist but calls for cooperative effort to enhance what they are already doing and build upon for the betterment of agriculture.”

Beef producer Eric Johnson spoke on behalf of the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association.  He says, “By adding value to their product gives them a greater buying power in each of their individual communities so increasing exports and increasing the value of beef will cause a ripple effect throughout their communities and can only be a positive in my mind.”

Tom Crave with the Dairy Business Association says, “Securing existing exports and securing new partnerships is critical to the viability of our dairy in our state and to the survival of rural Wisconsin.” He adds, “By increasing our markets, it would help many dairy farms including ours, which is in the midst of a transition from one generation to the next, and by doing so, it would help the new generation have a viable way to support their families and their livelihood in rural Wisconsin.”

The bill would authorize nearly one million state dollars annually for five years to increase export volumes for Wisconsin agricultural products.