The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced $1 million will be awarded to 49 farmer-led groups through the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program.
Funding will support producer-led conservation solutions by encouraging innovation and farmer participation in efforts to improve Wisconsin’s soil health and water quality. Groups in Northeast Wisconsin receiving funds are:
- Calumet County Ag Stewardship Alliance – $16,500
- Farmers for Tomorrow Watershed Council – $22,000
- Fond du Lac County Watersheds Alliance – $22,000
- Muddy Bottom Farmers – $10,100
- Peninsula Pride Farms – $26,000
- Seven Rivers Soil Cooperative Inc. – $32,000
- Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers – $22,000
“The producer-led watershed protection grant program is just one of the tools in the toolbox for Wisconsin producers,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “Farmers are stewards of the land and water and understand the importance of innovation on the farm. It is great to see this program and farmer-led groups being supported, and I applaud the Governor’s leadership on increasing the funding for this valuable program.”
Including the recent round of funding, DATCP has awarded more than $7.2 million to 52 different groups across the state since the program started in 2015. Grant projects have focused on providing conservation education to farmers, conducting on-farm demonstrations and research, issuing incentive payments for implementing conservation practices, organizing field days, and gathering data on soil health and water quality.
In 2023, groups in the program delivered conservation practices on over 1.5 million acres, an increase from 1.1 million acres in 2022. This includes a 15 percent increase in no-till practices, a 30 percent increase in nutrient management, and a 2 percent increase in cover crop adoption.
