Associated Press Writer

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Wisconsin farm groups expressed concern Wednesday about proposed cuts in a federal price support program for dairy farmers.

"These cuts in the dairy safety net program will make life difficult for our dairy farmers," said Sue Beitlich, Wisconsin Farmers Union president.,”

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Wisconsin farm groups expressed concern Wednesday about proposed cuts in a federal price support program for dairy farmers.

"These cuts in the dairy safety net program will make life difficult for our dairy farmers," said Sue Beitlich, Wisconsin Farmers Union president.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns' proposal would continue through fiscal 2008 the current price support in the Milk Income Loss Contract program. But that would drop in subsequent years as part of President Bush's vision of a new farm bill.

"We need to continue MILC at the original level and ensure that in tough times, our farmers have an adequate safety net to carry them through," Beitlich said.

"The challenge will be to get full funding," added Bill Bruins, president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. He cautioned that "it is extremely early in the game." The proposal must make it through both houses of Congress and to Bush's desk.

"The farm bill is going to have many moving parts that will affect virtually every sector of agriculture in our state." said U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis. "We know that in Wisconsin agriculture is a very important part of our economy, and we will work hard to ensure that our state's many interests are represented as debate over the farm bill begins."

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