The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors has endorsed Senator Tammy Baldwin for U.S. Senate, along with Representatives Derrick Van Orden and Thomas Tiffany for Congress.
“Senator Baldwin, Representative Van Orden and Representative Tiffany support Wisconsin agriculture through engaging directly with the farming community in their districts,” said WFBF President Brad Olson.
Sen. Baldwin, first elected to the Senate in 2013, has been a steadfast advocate for Wisconsin agriculture. She has led efforts to enforce FDA labeling standards through the Dairy Pride Act and creating the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative. First created in 2018 through the farm bill, Sen. Baldwin’s DBII program helps cheesemakers and dairy businesses develop new products, meet market demands and expand markets. Since its creation, the program has delivered almost $40 million to help Wisconsin dairy businesses.
Rep. Tiffany, elected to Congress in 2020, has been a strong supporter of Wisconsin farmers. Rep. Tiffany has led efforts to delist wolves in Wisconsin, shepherding the Trust the Science Act through the House and speaking passionately about requiring milk in schools. His efforts to promote rural development, including improving infrastructure, broadband access, and other resources vital to rural and farming communities.
Rep. Van Orden is serving his first term in congress and is Wisconsin’s first member of the House Committee on Agriculture in more than 10 years. Rep. Van Orden, casually dubbed the Cheese King of the House, has been an outspoken advocate for Wisconsin agriculture by leading efforts to bring whole milk to schools, require schools to provide flavored milk and allow farms to diversify their income through the Next Generation Fuels Act.
“Wisconsin Farm Bureau looks forward to working with Senator Baldwin, Representative Van Orden and Representative Tiffany as they work on behalf of Wisconsin farmers,” added Olson. “Each have demonstrated strong support for policies that tackle the critical challenges faced by farmers and the agricultural industry, including securing crop insurance, expanding policies that open up markets for American agricultural products and advancing agricultural research and innovation.”
The WFBF Board of Directors also endorsed Representatives Fitzgerald, Grothman and Steil, each of whom has been honored with the “Friend of Farm Bureau” award by the American Farm Bureau Federation. This recognition highlights their commitment to supporting American farmers and advocating for the agricultural community in Congress.
David says
I support your bipartisanship!
Tammy and Tom have been fighting for us farmers since day 1.
Daniel Fremstad says
It makes me sick to see my farm bureau endorsed Baldwin she is such a enemy to rural Wisconsin. Disgusting!
Dan Flood says
As a Farm Bureau member I strongly disagree with your endorsement of Ms. Baldwin. I want no association with her considering her stance on abortion, transgender surgeries, and spending policies.
There is far more at stake in our country than her ag policies.
Bill P says
From a farming point of view this makes a lot of sense. She’s long advocated for farmers in WI and backed it up with legislation that put meaningful dollars in farmers’ hands and kept the doors open in a lot of cases. The Dairy Business Innovation Initiative she authored brought $40 million to WI farmers and the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance which was created by her through the farm bill secured $11 million for small and mid-sized dairy farms.
Farm Bureau considers one item, farmers. Tammy has directly helped farmers and Hovde recently explained he does not know what is on the farm bill. It’s a no brainer when you look at it through the lens of farming advocacy.
M Platz says
Wow! We just joined Farm Bureau and am flabbergasted to see an endorsement for Big Dem Baldwin. I’m leaning towards canceling our membership less than a month after submitting it.
Laura Welch says
I have canceled my insurance with Rural Mutual and am asking you to cancel my Farm Bureau membership.
I am not pleased that you’re endorsing Tammy Baldwin. I feel you should remain neutral rather than endorse candidates. I’m ok with ” Friends of Farm Bureau” but not endorsements.
John P Heideman says
As a Rural Mutual Insurance customer I am disgusted by their endorsement of Tammy Baldwin! I will be taking my Business elsewhere.
Alexander says
Shame on you for your indorsement of Baldwin! Eric Hovde has agriculture’s back, just as he has small businesses’ back. What a foolish, shameful, and daftly ignorant decision to make! It certainly doesn’t represent the actual popular opinion of the working people in agriculture in Wisconsin!
Randy Thull says
If I ever needed a reason to be disappointed with farm bureau, I have it now. She keeps telling farmers she is going to do something about farmers with mental health issues. It is all talk. This move confirms it. She is for big ag and not all our family farms. I know several struggling families who farm. Don’t let her fool you, she is only supporting the big business and big pharmaceutical corporations. We don’t want more drugs for mental health to make us feel happy about losing our farms. We need to preserve real food with less processing and make it easier for consumers to buy it. The healthiest choices of food are grown on small to middle sized farms not big ones. I bet she doesn’t support raw milk sales. Wonder why? Wfbf does.
Valerie Pierzina says
All reasons cited only Dairy specifically. Wisconsin’s agricultural industry is far more diverse, I would’ve liked to read a more balanced and full industry assessment. Due to inflation, sky rocketing prices of fuel and other inputs coupled with record low commodity prices, and general disagreement with the liberal policies of Baldwin, we as crop farmers will be voting Hovde.
Brent says
Farm Bureau member for 11 years. I disagree with Baldwin endorsement. Why as a business do you want to turn off 50% of your customers? Why make an endorsement at all? Is this what our membership dues go too? That’s a joke. Bought and sold by Big AG
Carl Austin says
Disappointed they are not endorsing Cook over Van Orden who seems extreme in his actions with youth.
Jerry Woelfel says
I just switched after this. Good bye WFBF. Hello Rural Insurance!
KATHY DUHIGG says
Strongly disappointed for the endorsement of Senator Baldwin. One needs to look at the whole picture.
Scott Simons says
I strongly disagree with any endorsement of any candidate. We as an organization should remain neutral on all candidates.
Gregory Sawtelle says
As a Farm Bureau member, I disagree with supporting Tammy Baldwin
janice merkel says
We are members and are very disappointed in your decision to endorse Tammy Baldwin. She has been in Washington for 25 yrs and has nothing to show for it. We very much disagree with her very liberal policies. She votes according to what she is told by the democratic party. We disagree on her abortion stance, woke policies, and spending money. Hovde is a businessman and will help the economy of our state and that will help to decrease the interest rates that are hurting us farmers. If being a member would not be part of our insurance, we would cancel our membership.
Mark Lambrecht says
As a Farm Bureau member for over 15 years I strongly disagree with any endorsement of anti business and do nothing Senator Baldwin. Shame on you.