(WEAU) La Crosse- Representative Ron Kind met with his Agriculture Advisory Committee to get feedback and ideas on what changes the next Farm Bill should have.

One of the committee members, Bob Mitchell, is a beef and
cattle farmer. He works hard every day with his three sons, who are also farmers.

“I get up every morning, I work with my sons, and I have 8 grandchildren. It’s a true family farm," said Mitchell.

Mitchell says he’s worried about the next generation of farmers, and hopes that the Farm Bill can help.

“One of the biggest concerns I have is the lack of young people to carry out agriculture. Regardless of all the technology, and science, people are going to have to get dirty,” said Mitchell.

Representative Ron Kind hopes to reform outdated and wasteful spending programs in the current Farm Bill.

“We’ve got tax payer paychecks going to people in Manhattan, Chicago, and San Francisco. These are people who aren’t even working the land. That is why these subsidies need to be changed,” said Kind.

While some agriculture industries may be doing okay, the dairy industry is not one of them.

“If you’re a dairy farmer in the area it’s been a rollercoaster ride. It’s up one minute, down the next. They are trying to smooth it and stay in business,” said Kind.

Kind also hopes to place better conservation plans into the bill.

“We need to encourage farmers to put good conservation plans in place. Some of the best conservationists I know are farmers, but if the funding isn’t there, then the temptation is there,” said Kind.

But not all programs may need change. The Young and Beginning Farmer Loan Program is working for Mitchell and his sons.

“Had there not been that program, because of economic times, there would have been no way to continue on with our business.”