On Farmer in court in raw milk dispute

Posted on January 12 at 3:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I think he was (is) operating without any sort of license whatsoever. ALL dairy farms (big, small, conventional, organic, etc.) must have a Grade A or B license. If this guy had neither, he was asking for trouble.

As always, there's a LOT more to this story than just the three paragraphs the Associated Press gives you.

On Wis. Farm Bureau: Food prices down in late 2011

Posted on January 5 at 9:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

lovemycountry - Check the full story at the Farm Bureau's website www.wfbf.com They conducted surveys in 25 different communities (including Beloit and Edgerton). It was also the first substantial decrease in the price in years. Geez, I know you want to make your point about ethanol, but 25 farmer-volunteers checking prices is hardly comparable to an oil company.

On Lawmakers get earful at state budget hearing

Posted on April 22 at 2:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Why no mention that this meeting was not one of the official hearings set by the Joint Finance Committee? It was basically just a dog-and-pony show for Democratic lawmakers to gin up their base. It wasn't an official meeting, so why should a Republican lawmaker show up? Yeah, yeah, their constituents would be there...but it rings kind of hollow when you consider what the "Fab 14" pulled.

On Wis. poll finds strong support for wind energy

Posted on April 22 at 2:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

...but nobody seems to wants a wind turbine in THEIR backyard....or within miles of their backyard for that matter.

On Cutbacks will slow farmland preservation

Posted on March 14 at 8:23 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Want to save farmland?... With healthy prices for crops and the use value assessment law, rural landowners are not inclined to sell their land for development purposes. A government sponsored program could never 'save' enough farmland in Wisconsin to make any real difference, and the strips of land that PACE set out to preserve is certainly is not going to be a factor in food prices.

On Our choice for 43rd Assembly District

Posted on October 27 at 11:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Hixson has had the benefit of being in the majority and having the Assembly Speaker as his legislative neighbor for the past two years...but what do the people of the 43rd have to show for his four years in office? Hixson claims to have "saved" some of the state health insurance programs...but let's face it, despite what his campaign literature says, those decisions were reached far beyond his head. Given the political climate, it's quite possible the Assembly will flip back to being controlled by Republicans. If Hixson manages to squeeze through another election he will be even LESS effective if the GOP takes the Assembly. The 43rd would be better off with a pragmatic and energetic fellow like Evan Wynn representing them. I trust that the Janesville Gazette sees that.

On Battle forming in 43rd District

Posted on October 25 at 2:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

"I have tried to work with the other side, and I will continue to do so. I believe in finding solutions, and that's different from my opponent, who says compromise is a lose-lose situation. I voted against my party on some major issues," says Hixson.

That all reads nice in the newspaper...but where are the actual examples? My guess is they don't really exist. Hixson blasts Republicans every chance he gets...show me ONE Republican at the state capitol that has wanted to work with Professor Hixson on anything since he started slumming it by collecting a lowly legislative paycheck.

On Milk production slows in Wisconsin and Minnesota

Posted on October 21 at 10:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

This story is a little skewed. Last year was a bad year for dairy farmers, but while California's milk production declined last year, Wisconsin's actually went up. The fact that Wisconsin hasn't made great gains over last year is not a reason for alarm. Milk production has nothing to do with 'hand-outs.' Since bottoming out in the summer of 2009, there have not been any price supports to dairy farmers. It's sad some people's knee-jerk reaction is to throw mud on the people that feed them.

On 32nd candidates use forum to blame special interests

Posted on October 21 at 10:31 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

The ONLY special interest groups? C'mon... Seems like a strange thing to say about the people that teach children and feed you every day.

On Farmers predicting a good yield from an early harvest

Posted on September 24 at 8:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

How is taxing farmland as a potential WalMart or a mini-mansion fair? Use value assessment taxes the land for what it's worth for how it's being used...farming. It's not a tax break. Before it, Wisconsin farmers were paying everyone else's way. Think of it, how many times has a school bus or sewer line serviced a cornfield that's a mile off the road? Since use value was enacted the amount of farmland sold for development has dropped considerably. I don't know how many would say that's a bad thing.