Rep. Jackie Walorski talks with Beer Dairy Inc. owners Regg Beer,left, Jeff Beer and Fred Beer, Milford, Wednesday during her two-day agricultural tour of the district. (Photo by Ray Balogh)

U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski visited Beer Dairy Inc. south of Milford during a district-wide agriculture tour, the third of her tenure in Washington. The tour was this afternoon.

During the 45-minute stop, Walorski conducted a walking tour of the facilities and met with the farm’s owners and other interested constituents.

The tour coincides with Indiana’s Agriculture Appreciation Month, and Walorski, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, and chair of its nutrition subcommittee, stated the purpose of her visit.

“I am here to make sure I can stay one step ahead and fight more efficiently for agriculture,” she said. “The EPA is so out of control right now.

“The farmers I know in the state of Indiana understand the balance of stewardship of the environment and economic production. I know how much regulations have hampered them. I believe in small government because I come from Indiana and believe in common sense solutions,” Walorski said.

The family-owned dairy farm was started with two dozen milk cows in 1974 by Fred Beer, who now owns and operates the farm with his sons. They employ 15 full-time workers to milk their herd of 920 cows.

The Beers also farm about 720 acres for feed.

“We are always thankful to be able to share our business with others, and the opportunity to have Congresswoman Walorski is a great chance to share the passion we have for our cows as well as our passion to give our community a quality, nutritious product.

“Dairy, with all of its inputs, is uniquely tied to the agriculture industry and our farm is no exception.  Without a strong agriculture community our job would be much more difficult, if not impossible. It is reassuring to know that our congresswoman is engaging in understanding our agriculture industry as well as the challenges and joys that we find in our jobs,” said Regg Beer from Beer Dairy Inc.

During her tour, Walorski visited 11 different agricultural facilities in the Second District between Tuesday, March 10 and today.

“From shrimp farmers to grain and livestock farms, each of the businesses I’m visiting this week is another example of the important role the agriculture industry plays right here in northern Indiana,” she said. “As a new member of the House Committee on Agriculture, this is a great opportunity for me to meet and visit with farmers and employees to talk about how we can continue to make agriculture a pillar of Indiana’s economy.”