Companion Animal Bill Over-Reaches to Farm Animal Care
Paul Zimmerman, chief lobbyist for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation says that “as drafted, Assembly Bill 747 is problematic for Wisconsin livestock farmers.”
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Farmers Urged to Contact DNR About NR 151 Runoff Rules by FRIDAY
Farm Bureau members need to weigh on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' proposed changes to the Nonpoint source pollution regulations (officially known as NR-151). The proposed rules will have many significant consequences and ramifications to farms of every size, commodity and management style. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau has reviewed the extensive set of proposed modifications and has developed a letter to the DNR on the needed changes. The deadline for public input is Friday, March 12.
TAKE ACTION NOW-CLICK HERE TO SEND A LETTER TO THE DNR
Click here to view the Farm Bureau's backgrounder and map pertaining to NR 151.

New Website Monitors the Humane Society of the United States
Today the Center for Consumer Freedom launched HumaneWatch.org, a watchdog project dedicated to analyzing the activities of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). HumaneWatch will include a blog written by CCF’s Director of Research, a growing document library, and a database capable of tracking the dozens of nonprofit (and for-profit) organizations that make up HSUS’s sprawling financial empire. The Humane Society of the United States has become the animal rights industry’s most powerful player, but it has avoided serious public scrutiny for years. HSUS raises nearly $100 million annually from Americans who largely believe their donations filter down to local pet shelters and improve the lives of dogs and cats. But in 2008, less than one-half of one percent of HSUS’s budget consisted of grants to actual hands-on “humane societies” that deal with the thankless task of sheltering unwanted pets.

Conversations on Animal Care
We are America's farmers and ranchers and we care about the health of our animals. We care because we wouldn't feed anything less than the safest food to our family and to yours. We care because without healthy and content animals, farmers and ranchers wouldn't be in business. Simply put, we care because healthy animals mean healthy food for you and your family.

That's why we created ConversationsOnCare.com, to show you why healthy animals are so important to us and help us learn what's most important to you.

Please take a look around our site and learn more about the steps every American farmer and rancher takes to ensure that our animals receive the best possible care, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.
Visit the Conversation on Animal Care Site
Animal care pocket guide for farmers from American Farm Bureau Federation

Farm Bureau Awards Ag in the Classroom Teacher Mini-Grants
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, through the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program, has awarded eight Teacher Mini-Grants to Wisconsin teachers to use in agricultural literacy lessons and activities. The grants provide opportunities for teachers to obtain funding that may not be available through their local school budgets.
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Use Value and Property Assessment
Each year the Wisconsin Department of Revenue calculates the assessed value for agricultural land. The link below shows the per acre assessments in counties in Wisconsin for pasture land and the three grades of crop land for the 2010 property tax year. These figures will be used to determine your 2010 property tax bill. Farm Bureau members need to remember that without Wisconsin's use value assessment law, these figures would be significantly higher.
Use Value Guidelines for Agricultural Assessment
Agricultural Assessment Guide


Young Farmer & Agriculturist Contest Applications
Farm Bureau YFA members have many chances to be involved with agriculture and hone their leadership skills. Sign up for these contests and challenge yourself to excel.
2010 YFA Achievement Award Short Form Application
2010 YFA Excellence in Agriculture Application
2010 YFA District Discussion Meet Manual and Application

Farm Bureau Members Set Policy for 2010
WFBF members set policy for 2010. Release
WFBF 2010 Policy

Corn Farmers Demonstrate Sustainable Ag in Video
A new National Corn Growers Association video on the subject of increasing sustainability in agriculture made its debut last weekend on the television program This Week in Agribusiness. The short video features family farmers telling the story of how better management and modern technology spells good news for both consumers and the environment. "The only thing as important as growing a crop and getting a fair price is doing so in a way that is socially responsible and assures opportunities for the next generation of farmers and consumers," said Darrin Ihnen, NCGA president and South Dakota corn grower. The video notes that every day on planet Earth we grow by over 200,000 people. That is 150 new people every minute. In the next 40 years our global population will exceed 9 billion people, up from 6.7 billion people today. "Luckily, family farmers are making rapid progress toward meeting the needs of a growing world and doing it with the environment in mind. Sustainability isn't some buzz word or novelty for a corn grower. We are living this every day and trying to do a better job with each crop we grow," Ihnen said.

Supporting the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation
Supporting the Foundation is easy. You can buy these items and part of the proceeds will go to the Foundation. To learn more about the Foundation, visit the Foundation homepage.

Commodity and Futures Markets Information
This link takes you to the fbcountry, a web site from the American Farm Bureau Federation. From this site you can monitor futures markets including currencies, energies, financials, grains, indices, meats, metals, and softs.fbcountry futures information

Children's Books - Series of Agriculture Books For Elementary School Kids
The WFB Foundation has a series of children's agriculture books for sale as part of the ongoing effort by Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom to promote books for elementary-age children that accurately portray modern agriculture.The books are appropriate for grades K-6 and have been selected for their accuracy, readability, and overall appeal to kids.
2010 Order Form

Planning on Your Farm - Useful Resources for Farmers
Download the following complimentary forms for use on your farm. the forms include a farm emergency template for emergency preparation, an employee handbook you can tailor to your farm and give to your employees and a farm safety handbook to help avoid injuries and losses. All three documents are available below in Word format.
EMERGENCY PLAN TEMPLATE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK FARM SAFETY HANDBOOK

UW Center for Ag Safety & Health Resources
The UW-Madison/Cooperative Extension Center for Agricultural Safety and Health has launched a new website that contains answers to commonly asked questions about state laws related to farm equipment, as well as other lighting and marking suggestions to keep both farmers and motorists safe this busy harvest season.[visit their site]