Wisconsin Grants Support Farmer-Led Conservation Efforts

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has awarded $1 million to 49 farmer-led groups to support producer-led conservation solutions by encouraging innovation and farmer participation in efforts to improve Wisconsin’s soil health and water quality. The Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program has awarded more than $8.2 million to 57 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. Producer-led groups must start with at least five farmers in the watershed and must work with a county land conservation department, University of Wisconsin-Division of Extension, a non-profit conservation organization, or the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.