Wisconsin's ag leader is questioning a comment by the federal ag leader about farming size.
The 53rd annual World Dairy Expo opened Tuesday in Madison. Organizers say more than 60-thousand people in the dairy business from 100 countries are expected to attend the event through Saturday. U-S Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue held a town hall meeting at the expo.
Later, Perdue held a press conference where he said small farms needed to “get bigger” or “go out”.
State Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection Secretary-designee Brad Pfaff(faff) said he didn't fully buy into Perdue's statement...
"...We heard a number of different things from the Secretary(Perdue), but the message that we heard was the fact that he said, 'the big get bigger and the small go out'. I've been traveling the state a lot in the last nine months and that's not a message a message I hear from Wisconsin farmers and agriculture leaders. Here in Wisconsin we work very hard to make sure farmers of all sizes and of all scales get an opportunity to achieve and succeed. That was an interesting comment that was made..."
Pfaff says there's room for all Wisconsin farmers regardless of size. He says they all work hard and produce quality products.
