Farmers voice concerns on ag, trade

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — President Donald J. Trump returned to Wisconsin for the first time in his second term, visiting a Chippewa Valley grain farm for an agriculture-focused listening session.

Trump visited Custer Farms Inc., a 5,000-acre crop farm near Chippewa Falls operated by Ken Custer and his sons, Darryl and Douglas, June 5. Trump was joined on stage by Ken Custer, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins,
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, 3rd District Representative Derrick Van Orden and 7th District Representative and gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany.

“We American farmers risk a lot and count on God’s blessings,” Custer said. “Our forefathers in this country understood that what makes us great is God’s blessing.”

Dairy farmers Jamie Witcpalek, Brad Peterson, Sydney Flick, Dennis Hawkins and Matt Krenz had seats at the table, hoping to share insight about issues impacting their dairies.

More than 1,000 people filled the venue to capacity, along with others outside who stood in both blazing sunshine and pouring rain to hear the president’s comments.

“You built this country,” Trump said. “Today, we’re celebrating some of the most loyal, hardworking patriots anywhere in the nation — they’re called our American farmers. We’re with you a thousand percent ... You’re going to see some very good things happen over the next 90-day period.”

Trump said the conflict with Iran would soon come to a conclusion and Americans will be better off with lower fertilizer, fuel and energy prices.

Giving American farmers a level playing field in trade has been a priority in both his administrations, with expanded exports of meat, poultry, soybeans and bio-fuels, Trump said, adding that dairy exports have surged nearly $1.2 billion during his presidency.

“You farmers had a bad patch in my first term,” Trump said. “I had farmers at the White House and told them I was going to get them a subsidy, because what was happening was artificial. But they said they didn’t want a subsidy; they just wanted an even playing field, fair trade. Nobody else has said that but the farmers.”

Tax cuts, passed as part of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, that will benefit agriculturists, were lauded by Trump.

“We made the small business tax deduction permanent, benefiting 98% of the farmers and ranchers,” Trump said. “We gave you 100% expensing and bonus depreciation. When you buy a new tractor, you’re allowed to deduct it all in the first year, instead of over a period of years.”

Keeping generational family farms alive will now be easier, Trump said.

“We got rid of the estate to save American farms from extinction,” Trump said. “You have a way of life, sometimes you’re land rich and cash poor. The mother or father would die and leave the farm to the kids, who would have a big tax problem. They’d go to the bank, borrow a lot of money, and they’d end up losing the farm in many cases, losing their way of life, because they couldn’t pay the tax.”

Dairy farmer Sydney Flick said the exemption will directly impact her family as they transition their farm.

“Not having to worry about paying taxes on assets that have gained incredible value in our lifetime will make it so our farm can continue to stay in our family,” Flick said.

Other policies that Trump extolled included ending electric vehicle mandates and diesel exhaust fuel requirements, allowing year-round E-15, expanding crop insurance and repealing the Waters of the United States and right to repair legislation.

Dairy farmer Brad Peterson applauded work towards fair trade and energy independence.

“Fair trade has been a challenge in America,” Peterson said. “We need to get what we deserve for our products. We’d rather have fair trade than subsidies. E-15, that’s great energy independence. On our farm we have a co-digester that uses food waste and cow manure to make methane, and I think that can help increase local energy independence and keep some of the food we work so hard to produce from going into landfills.”

Not only has foreign market access grown for American dairy farmers, but domestic markets have been recaptured.

“I signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act,” Trump said. “We have people who’ve been fighting for that for years. I called Ron (Johnson) and said, ‘What’s the fight for? It just sounds good, it’s better, it’s healthy. I like it, and I drink it.’ We have that totally opened up now for the kids. Now we’re working with Congress to quickly pass the new farm bill.”

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids is important on many fronts, said dairy farmer Jamie Witcpalek.

“As a dairy farmer and a mom, I see how important it is for these policies to be put in place, not only for the families that are growing the food, but for the people who are consuming it every day,” Witcpalek said. “It’s common sense to have those options for our children in the schools. Whole milk provides essential nutrients our kids need for bone and muscle growth and brain development. Our dad always said to drink milk, it does a body good. That stands true to this day.”

Flick echoed Witcpalek’s sentiments on school nutrition.

“Not only are we getting better tasting milk in the schools, we’re able to offer more nutrition to some kids that really rely on nutrition at school,” Flick said.

Flick hoped to share with the president her concerns for immigration reform, specific to dairy farm labor needs.

“I appreciate the leadership the president has had, taking immigration seriously,” Flick said. “We really need agriculture labor reform that works for dairy farms, 365 days a year. I encourage him to continue working with Congressman Van Orden and (House Agriculture Committee) chairman G. T. Thompson to find a long-term, permanent solution that applies to dairy and livestock sectors.”

Custer praised the president for making hard decisions.

“I want to thank you for being who you are, the integrity you hold, doing what you say you’re going to do,” Custer said. “You make the right decisions for America, even if they aren’t popular. We thank you and Secretary Rollins for your work on trade. That’s all we need is fair trade, and we can compete with anybody in the world.”

Trump concluded the event, sharing his admiration for America’s farmers.

“People love being on their farms, maybe more than any industry,” Trump said. “People want to have their farm, it’s a way of life, and they love life on the farm. As president, I’ve fought for the American farmer like nobody has ever fought before. I’m here because I like the American farmer.”