Kohl Worked To Include Assistance For Farmers In Approved Supplemental Bill

Press Release

The U.S. Senate yesterday approved the FY09 Supplemental Appropriations bill which included Sen. Herb Kohl's proposal to include $585 million in loans to support farming and agriculture. The bill includes $360 million for direct farm ownership loans and $225 million for direct operating loans through the USDA's Farm Service Authority.

"Farmers are essential to our economy and are working hard to compete and survive in the current economic downturn," Kohl said. "Farming is a tradition in Wisconsin that goes back generations. Many family farms are struggling desperately with low dairy prices and high input costs. This legislation includes loans for farm ownership and operations which will help farmers avoid foreclosure."

Kohl is Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations panel and has continued to work for the agriculture industry and local farmers by including farm credit provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that Congress passed earlier this year. Additionally, Senator Kohl fought to include the feed cost adjuster for the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program in the 2008 Farm Bill.

Source