Wisconsin Ag Connection - More Watershed Protection Grants Awarded to Ag Groups

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More Watershed Protection Grants Awarded to Ag Groups
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 11/30/2016

Wisconsin's second round of Producer Led Watershed Protection Grants have been awarded to 11 groups of farmers who will work with resource conservation agencies and organizations to address soil and water issues tailored to their local conditions.

State agriculture officials say all but one of the groups already existed, with many of them having started with the help of funding from the first round of grants. Together they will receive just over $197,000 in this second round of awards.

The grant program was included in the 2015-17 state budget, designed to give financial support to farmers willing to lead conservation efforts in their own watersheds. Each group is eligible for up to $20,000 a year.

Producer groups must work with DATCP, the Department of Natural Resources, a county land conservation committee, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, or a nonprofit conservation organization. Grant funds cannot pay for real estate, loans, equipment purchases, or lobbying, and the program places caps on the amount of funding that can be used for staff support to the groups.

The second-round grant recipients are:

** Buffalo-Trempealeau Farmer Network - Elk Creek Watershed: $13,440

** Farmers for Lake Country - Oconomowoc River Watershed: $20,000

** Farmers for the Upper Sugar River: $20,000

** Farmers of Mill Creek Watershed Council: $19,975

** Horse Creek Farmer-Led Watershed Council: $15,450

** Milwaukee River Watershed Clean Farm Families: $20,000

** Pecatonica Pride: $20,000

** Peninsula Pride Farms: $20,000

** South Kinni Farmer-Led Watershed Council: $10,000

** Trout Creek-Mill Creek Watershed Group: $18,200

** Yahara Pride Farms: $20,000

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