Wisconsin Ag Connection - Criteria Set for WI Direct Farm Payments; Sign-up Starts June 15

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Criteria Set for WI Direct Farm Payments; Sign-up Starts June 15
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 06/05/2020

Wisconsin's agriculture secretary has announced some of the long-awaited details of the Wisconsin Farm Support Program, which will provide $50 million in direct aid payments to struggling producers from the federal CARES Act. On Thursday, Randy Romanski explained that the Department of Revenue will launch an online-only application in mid-June for farmers to apply for funding.

"The application will go live on June 15 and there will only be a short two-week window of opportunity for farmers to apply," Romanski said. "We have worked with farm organizations to make sure perimeters were set up so dollars could go out quickly and that it could go out to as many farmers as possible in July."

As part of those perimeters, farmers who's gross income ranged between $35,000 to $5 million during the 2019 tax year would be eligible to apply (based on Schedule F, Line 9 on their tax forms). Payout disbursements will then range from $1,000 to $3,500 based on the tier of income that the applicant falls under.

Romanski says the revenue agency will also have representatives available to answer questions, including Spanish and Hmong speaking interpreters when the sign-up period opens.

Besides those in the dairy industry, the secretary noted that payments will go to a wide variety of farmers in the state ranging from corn and soybean producers to cranberry growers and livestock farmers.

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