MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has awarded $750,000 in producer-led watershed protection grants to 30 farmer-led groups. Grants support producer-led conservation solutions by encouraging innovation and farmer participation in on-the-ground efforts to improve Wisconsin’s soil health and water quality.
“Our partnership with DATCP’s producer-led program is one of our core assets,” said Chris van Someren of Jon-De Farm and the Western Wisconsin Conservation Council, a producer-led group. “The cost-sharing part of the program is extremely helpful in motivating our members to experiment with and implement practices that protect soil and water health. Beyond the capacity for funding, the program brings the added benefits of education, communication, and collaboration between farmers across the state. This kind of cooperation between government and farmers will be a critical part of Wisconsin’s conservation efforts moving forward.”
New to the grant program this year is a conservation benefits tracking component. DATCP will use this to measure the water quality benefits associated with the conservation practices implemented by participating farmers throughout the state.
This is the sixth round of grant awards since funding started with the 2015-17 state budget. During the first year, 14 producer-led groups submitted applications totaling over $242,000. In response to an increase in applications and interest in the program since its inception, Governor Tony Evers increased the annual program funding to $750,000 in the 2019-2021 state budget.
For more information about current producer-led projects and contact information for groups, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/ProducerLedProjects.aspx.
2021 Grant Awards
First-time award recipients include:
Biological Farming Friends: $16,500
Central Wisconsin Farmers’ Collaborative: $19,800
Lake Wisconsin Farmer Watershed Council: $15,000
Previously funded projects receiving new grants:
Bear Creek/Chippewa Farmer Groundwater Group: $23,475
Buffalo-Trempealeau Farmer Network: $40,000
Buffalo County Conservation Farmers: $14,984
Calumet County Ag Stewardship Alliance: $6,250
Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil and Healthy Water: $39,093
Eau Pleine Partnership for Integrated Conservation: $30,000
Farmers for Lake Country: $15,000
Farmers of the Sugar River: $14,700
Farmers for Tomorrow: $30,000
Farmers of Barron County: $17,200
Farmers of Mill Creek: $31,749
Farmers for the Upper Sugar River: $31,749
Horse Creek Farmer-Led Watershed Council: $28,950
Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance: $30,000
Ozaukee County Clean Farm Families: $30,000
Peninsula Pride Farms: $30,000
Producers of Lake Redstone: $30,000
Red Cedar Conservation Farmers: $30,000
Sauk Soil and Water Improvement Group: $30,000
Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers: $35,000
The Shell Lake - Yellow River Farmer-Led Watershed Council: $12,750
South Kinni Farmer-Led Watershed Council: $15,000
Tainter Creek Farmer-Led Watershed Council: $30,000
Uplands Watershed Group: $13,000
Watershed Protection Committee of Racine County: $40,000
Western Wisconsin Conservation Council: $30,000
Yahara Pride Farms: $30,000