Photo (L-R): Kevin Krenz, Karl Pippenger, Representative Tony Kurtz, Eric Johnson, Senator Joan Ballweg, Jack Heinemann, Tom Crave
Two Wisconsin legislators say Governor Tony Evers’ export expansion proposal doesn’t go far enough. State Senator Joan Ballweg says, “We know that Wisconsin ranks first in exports for things like ginseng roots, prepared and preserved cranberries, raw fur skins, and bovine semen, yet these industries are excluded from the Governor’s proposal in his current budget.”
State Representative Tony Kurtz agrees. “Over 104 billion dollars we produce, but yet we only export roughly, you know, about 3.5 billion dollars.”
Ballweg and Kurtz introduced their agriculture and agribusiness comprehensive export program Monday, which would require the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to create a plan and achieve export objectives by June 30th, 2026.