Chippewa Valley Farmers Share Struggles at Barnes Roundtable

Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes visited the Chippewa Valley this week, discussing tariffs and higher gas prices with local farmers.

During the roundtable discussion those local farmers shared increasingly common affordability concerns surrounding things like fuel and fertilizers, as well as potential changes to the Farm Bill later this year and increasing health insurance premiums. Following the discussion, Barnes highlighted the importance of addressing those affordability concerns.

“The relief that people need is very real,” he said. “These aren’t talking points. The idea of affordability for so many people across the state of Wisconsin, across this country, is something that has created real devastation. It has created not just financial crises for people, but also mental health crises as people struggle to pay the bills, not knowing what the next day is going to look like.”

The roundtable also came just days ahead of President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to the Chippewa Valley on Friday as part of an effort to highlight his initiatives to help farmers. Asked what message he would want to deliver to President Trump from the roundtable, Barnes says it would be that the President is out of touch and not doing his job.

“And that message would simply be, Donald Trump is not doing his job,” he said. “It would simply be, Donald Trump is too out of touch to continue to serve in the Office of President. And it feels like there are truly some cognitive issues that made him even less in touch than he’s been, whether it’s his first time as President or his first year back as President.”

Farmers at the roundtable also shared their ideas for state-level policy changes that could benefit the agricultural industry, including investing in more infrastructure improvements for rural roadways and bridges, the responsible expansion of renewable energy sources like solar, and establishing new agriculture-based educational programs.

Former Lieutenant Governor Barnes is currently one of seven candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Governor in the August primary election.