Farming & Agriculture
Farming & Agriculture
Farming & Agriculture
Strengthening Wisconsin’s Rural Heartland
I’m committed to championing our farmers and rural communities who are the backbone of America’s Dairyland. From the dairy farms of Fond du Lac to the grain fields of Dodge County, agriculture is more than an industry; it’s our heritage and our future. Both small and large farms contribute immensely, creating jobs and sustaining our rural way of life. But giant firms like Bayer-Monsanto, Cargill, and Tyson Foods threaten our farmers with unfair pricing, market control, and consolidation that drive up costs and squeeze profits. My vision is to support farmers, farm workers, and grow our rural middle class while ensuring these corporate giants compete fairly. I’m pro-farming, pro-labor, and pro-working class, and I’ll fight to keep our agricultural communities thriving.
Wisconsin’s 6th District is a powerhouse of dairy and grain production, feeding the nation and driving our economy. Yet, our farmers face crushing challenges: volatile milk prices, harmful trade policies, and corporate-driven cost increases. Farm workers, vital to our operations, often lack fair wages and protections due to bad policies. Meanwhile, Representative Glenn Grothman has failed to deliver for our farmers, prioritizing big agribusiness over family farms. Grothman's record of supporting trade deals that hurt exports and ignoring small farmers has left rural Wisconsin behind. It’s time for a leader who understands our roots and will fight for our future. My policies aim to tackle corporate overreach, empower farmers, protect workers, and strengthen our rural economy.
Below is my plan to support Wisconsin’s farmers—both family-owned and larger operations— along with farm workers, and rural communities. These policies are designed to resonate with the hardworking people of the 6th District: family farmers, agricultural workers, and rural families.
Dairy farmers deserve fair, predictable prices for their hard work. I’ll push for reforms to the Federal Milk Marketing Order system to ensure transparent pricing and establish price floors to protect against market crashes. This will stabilize incomes for dairy farmers in Calumet, Manitowoc, and beyond, keeping our farms in business.
Why I’m Different: Grothman has ignored calls for milk pricing reform, leaving farmers vulnerable to volatile markets. I’ll fight for fair prices to keep our dairy industry strong.
Businesses like John Deere and CNH Industrial restrict farmers’ ability to repair their own equipment, forcing them to rely on expensive, company-controlled services. These restrictions drive up costs and downtime, hitting small and large farms alike in our district. I’ll champion Right to Repair legislation to ensure farmers have access to tools, software, and parts to fix their tractors, milking systems, and other equipment. By breaking corporate monopolies on repairs, we’ll save farmers money, boost their independence, and keep our rural economy strong.
Why I’m Different: Grothman has ignored farmers’ struggles with repair restrictions. I’ll fight to empower our farmers with the freedom to repair their own equipment.
Farmers deserve support to adopt sustainable practices that lower costs and protect our land. I’ll secure federal grants and low-interest loans for practices like cover cropping and precision agriculture, helping dairy and grain farmers in Sheboygan and beyond counter rising input costs driven by corporate giants like Bayer-Monsanto, whose seed prices have risen 270% since 1990 while crop prices lagged.
Why I’m Different: Grothman’s lack of focus on sustainability has shortchanged farmers seeking modern solutions. I’ll invest in practices that ensure long-term farm viability.
Trade policies must work for our farmers, not against them. I’ll advocate for trade agreements that open global markets for Wisconsin’s dairy, grain, and soy products, countering tariffs that have cut exports to countries like China and Canada. By increasing demand for our cheese, milk, corn, and soybeans, we’ll boost farm incomes and create jobs.
Why I’m Different: Grothman backed tariffs that hurt our farmers, reducing export markets and incomes. I’ll prioritize trade deals that put Wisconsin agriculture first.
Corporate agribusinesses like Cargill and Tyson control markets, with four firms holding over 60% of the seed market and 80% of beef processing, squeezing farmers with low prices and unfair contracts. USDA data shows that between 1990 and 2020, seed prices rose by 270%, while commodity crop prices (e.g., corn, soybeans) increased by only 56%. Small farmers, unable to absorb these rising costs, face tighter margins, with many reporting negative incomes. In 2020, small family farms had average net incomes of –$1,637 for low-sales farms and –$2,427 for off-farm occupation farms, pushing many toward bankruptcy or closure. I’ll propose a moratorium on agribusiness mergers, tax incentives for independent farms, and antitrust enforcement to level the playing field, protecting both small and large farms from corporate greed.
Why I’m Different: Grothman’s policies, like supporting the 2024 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” prioritize corporate deregulation over farmers. I’ll stand up to agribusiness to protect our farms.
Farm workers are the backbone of Wisconsin’s agricultural economy, yet many face low wages (median $13.88/hour) and challenging conditions due to flawed economic policies and corporate agribusiness practices. Companies like Tyson Foods and Dean Foods dominate markets, squeezing farmers’ profits with low commodity prices and high input costs, which in turn limits what farmers can pay their workers. Bad trade policies and inadequate labor protections exacerbate this, leaving farm workers, including the 5-7% on legal visas in Wisconsin’s dairy sector, vulnerable. I’ll push for federal policies to raise farm worker wages, improve workplace safety, and provide legal pathways for immigrant workers, ensuring a stable labor force while respecting their dignity. This includes supporting unionization efforts to give workers a voice and advocating for reforms to reverse decades of economic policies that prioritize corporate profits over fair pay. By addressing these systemic issues, we’ll support both farmers and workers, strengthening our rural communities.
Why I’m Different: Grothman’s anti-labor record, including votes weakening worker protections, ignores farm workers’ needs. I’ll ensure they’re treated fairly and valued.
Strong farms need strong infrastructure. I’ll support federal investments in rural roads, bridges, and high-speed internet to connect farmers to markets and resources. Improved infrastructure, from Waupun to Oostburg, will lower costs, create jobs, and strengthen our rural economy.
Why I’m Different: Grothman’s budget cuts have limited rural infrastructure investment, leaving communities disconnected. I’ll prioritize projects that support farmers and rural life.
Innovation can keep our farms competitive. I’ll fund research and training for technologies like robotic milking systems (used by 8-10% of Wisconsin dairy farmers) and precision agriculture for grain farmers. These tools will boost productivity and create high-tech jobs in rural areas.
Why I’m Different: Grothman has shown little interest in agricultural innovation, missing opportunities to modernize our farms. I’ll bring cutting-edge solutions to our district.
The next generation of farmers faces barriers like high land costs and limited access to capital. I’ll advocate for federal loan forgiveness programs, land access initiatives, and mentorship programs to help young and beginning farmers in the 6th District start and grow their operations.
Why I’m Different: Grothman’s lack of focus on young farmers risks our agricultural future. I’ll ensure new farmers have the support to succeed.
Modernize the H-2A visa program to include year-round dairy workers (51% of whom are immigrants), reduce red tape, and offer permanent legal status for long-term workers (with no crime record), supporting farmers’ compliance with complex laws.
Why I’m Different: Grothman’s support for restrictive immigration policies burdens farmers. I’ll simplify legal hiring to ensure a stable, fairly treated workforce.
Wisconsin’s 6th District deserves a representative who fights for our farm workers and rural communities. Growing up in Wisconsin, I saw my parents work tirelessly to provide for us despite financial struggles. Their grit inspired me to become the first in my family to graduate college, and it drives my commitment to fight for families like yours. Glenn Grothman’s record of backing harmful tariffs, favoring corporate agribusiness, and ignoring farm workers shows he’s out of touch with our rural roots. I’ll be a champion for family farms, fair trade, and agricultural workers, delivering real solutions to keep our district thriving.
My policies are rooted in fairness, opportunity, and community. My proposal plan to tackle the root causes of our agricultural challenges: corporate market control, unfair pricing, and consolidation that led to a 7% loss of U.S. farms (141,733) from 2017 to 2022. By securing fair prices, promoting sustainability, opening markets, and protecting workers, we can strengthen our agricultural economy and ensure every rural family has a shot at the American Dream. Together, we can make Wisconsin’s 6th District a place where farming families and rural communities prosper.