(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s governor is asking the state’s members of Congress to approve a new Farm Bill and is asking for changes.
Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday sent a letter to Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, asking that they quickly vote for a new Farm Bill.
“As Congress continues negotiations and we approach the looming end of the federal fiscal year, I write again to reinforce the urgency and need for Congress to advance a comprehensive Farm Bill that reflects the evolving needs of Wisconsin’s agricultural economy and the families who depend on it, including taking needed action to safeguard Wisconsin’s hemp industry,” Evers wrote. “Wisconsin’s agricultural industry contributes more than $116 billion annually to our state’s economy and remains foundational to our identity as America’s Dairyland.”
But the governor said Wisconsin is also facing “significant challenges” under President Trump.
One of those challenges that the governor said Congress must address is the change under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that mandates work requirements for people on food stamps.
Evers characterized that as taking away food stamp benefits from hundreds of thousands of people in the state.
“I urge you to protect and strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in Wisconsin as FoodShare,” Evers said. “Federal actions under the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have created significant uncertainty for nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including kids, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working families. New SNAP requirements enacted through President Trump’s so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ impose significant new administrative burdens on states, creating unnecessary complexity in administering the program and increasing the risk of benefit disruptions for eligible households.”
That is likely going to be a nonstarter with Wisconsin’s six Republican congressmen, all of whom voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill, and all of whom support the work requirements in the law.
Evers also asked Congress to use either the Farm Bill or another piece of legislation to clarify the rules for hemp.
“I also once again urge you to take needed action to prevent mass disruption of the hemp industry due to the federal hemp definition change passed by Congress last year,” he wrote. “I must reiterate the importance of Congress providing a stable and workable path forward for Wisconsin’s hemp industry in the next Farm Bill or standalone legislation. Hemp has become an increasingly important tool for agricultural diversification, rural economic development, and value-added manufacturing, creating new opportunities for Wisconsin farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers across our state.”
In November of last year, Congress changed how it classifies and regulates hemp. Congress said the move was necessary to keep “unregulated” and “intoxicating” hemp products off of store shelves. But hemp advocates say the changes have effectively made 95% of hemp products illegal. Hemp growers are worried that they may be stuck with worthless crops unless Congress changes the rules again.
